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Israel bolsters Sinai border after missile attack on military patrol Israel bolsters Sinai border after missile attack on military patrol
(about 2 hours later)
JERUSALEM – Israel dispatched additional forces to its southern border on Wednesday after an anti-tank missile was fired from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula at a military patrol vehicle, the Israeli army said. JERUSALEM — Israel dispatched additional forces to its southern border on Wednesday after an antitank missile was fired from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula at a military patrol vehicle, the Israeli army said.
There has been a sharp increase in Islamist radical groups operating in the Sinai since the fraying of Egypt’s security forces after the 2011 Arab Spring revolution.There has been a sharp increase in Islamist radical groups operating in the Sinai since the fraying of Egypt’s security forces after the 2011 Arab Spring revolution.
Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner gave no immediate details on the possible origins of the attack. But local media reported an exchange of fire in the area, raising speculation of links to the extremist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which operates along the border. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli military spokesman, gave no immediate details on the possible origins of the attack. But local media reported an exchange of fire in the area, raising speculation of links to the extremist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which operates along the border.
The incident injured two soldiers — a man and woman — who are part of a mixed-gender military unit that patrols the border with Egypt. The incident injured two soldiers — a man and a woman — who are part of a mixed-gender military unit that patrols the border with Egypt.
Lerner said it was not yet clear whether there also had been a cross-border infiltration at the site of the attack. Additional forces were brought in, he said. Lerner said it was not clear whether there also had been a cross-border infiltration at the site of the attack. Additional forces were brought in, he said.
On Tuesday, Ramzi Mawafi, doctor to former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and one of the militants known to be operating in the Sinai, was designated by the State Department as a “global terrorist.”On Tuesday, Ramzi Mawafi, doctor to former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and one of the militants known to be operating in the Sinai, was designated by the State Department as a “global terrorist.”
“This is an interesting coincidence, but it is unlikely the attack was in response to this, such attacks take time to prepare,” said Aviv Oreg, former head of the al-Qaeda and Global Jihad desk in Israeli military intelligence. “This is an interesting coincidence, but it is unlikely the attack was in response to this. Such attacks take time to prepare,” said Aviv Oreg, former head of the al-Qaeda and global jihad desk in Israeli military intelligence.
He said the goal of such groups is draw Israel into a conflict in the Sinai, violating Egyptian sovereignty and causing friction between Israel and Egypt, which have a peace accord. He said the goal of such groups is to draw Israel into a conflict in the Sinai, which would mean a violation of Egyptian sovereignty and would cause friction between Israel and Egypt, which have a peace accord.
In recent months — and especially during last summer’s war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza — Egypt and the Jewish state have appeared united in their fight against extremist Islamist groups. In recent months — and especially during the war this summer between Israel and the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip — Egypt and the Jewish state have appeared united in their fight against extremist Islamist groups.
Egypt has escalated efforts to regain control over Sinai, but extremist groups have managed to waged attacks on Israeli-linked targets over the past few years. Egypt has escalated efforts to regain control over the Sinai, but extremist groups have managed to waged attacks on Israeli-linked targets over the past few years.
In February, an explosion tore through a bus bringing tourists from Egypt to Israel, killing four Korean nationals and the Egyptian driver. In 2012, the mixed-gender Caracal battalion killed three militants attempting to cross the border. A year earlier, another infiltration left six Israeli civilians dead and 40 more wounded. In February, an explosion tore through a bus bringing tourists from Egypt to Israel, killing four Korean nationals and the Egyptian driver. In 2012, the Israeli mixed-gender Caracal battalion killed three militants attempting to cross the border. A year earlier, another infiltration left six Israeli civilians dead and 40 more wounded.
The militant groups operating in the Sinai also have claimed responsibility for firing mortars and rockets into the southern Israeli city of Eilat, as well as the nearby Jordanian resort, Aqaba. The militant groups operating in the Sinai also have asserted responsibility for firing mortar rounds and rockets into the southern Israeli city of Eilat, as well as the nearby Jordanian resort of Aqaba.