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Isis in Egypt: Wave of attacks across the country signals frightening upsurge in militant activity Isis in Egypt: Wave of attacks across the country signals frightening upsurge in militant activity
(about 3 hours later)
Jihadists aligned to Isis have carried out a series of devastating assaults in Egypt’s Sinai province, following earlier attacks elsewhere in the country, making it the most serious escalation of anti-government violence for years.Jihadists aligned to Isis have carried out a series of devastating assaults in Egypt’s Sinai province, following earlier attacks elsewhere in the country, making it the most serious escalation of anti-government violence for years.
The wave of raids launched on military and police targets left at least 64 civilians and soldiers dead, and signalled a frightening upsurge in militant activity that suggests Isis is growing in power inside the Middle East’s most populous Arab state. The wave of raids launched on military and police targets left at least 64 soldiers dead, and signalled a frightening upsurge in militant activity that suggests Isis is growing in power inside the most populous Arab state. The Egyptian military said that more than 100 of the attackers had been killed and 20 injured.
Egypt’s military spokesman said that around 70 fighters launched the initial attack at around 10am. By the end of the morning, the jihadists claimed in an statement published online, they had attacked 13 checkpoints, and seized military equipment around Sheikh Zuweid, a small town in North Sinai province. There were further attacks across the districts of Sheikh Zuweid and al-Arish, and in Rafah, which borders the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. The Muslim Brotherhood called for a rebellion to overthrow Egypt’s President, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, after special forces killed nine members of the outlawed Islamist movement during a raid on a Cairo apartment. The dead included Nasr al-Hafi, a former Brotherhood MP.
The Islamists then struck two military vehicles and surrounded and besieged the local police station for several hours. The Egyptian military later said that more than 100 of the attackers had been killed and 20 injured, but gave no indication as to the number of civilian casualties. The Brotherhood denounced “the traitorous coup regime” – Mr Sisi became President after ousting the country’s only democratically elected leader, the Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi, in 2013 – and said it had “assassinated” a group of its leaders.
“To the proud people of Egypt … This unjust tyrant has done his worst. Rise in revolt to defend your homeland, your lives and your children,” it said.
While the Brotherhood is an Islamist group, it is far removed from the murderous Isis regime.
Around 70 jihadist fighters linked to Isis launched the initial attack at around 10am. By the end of the morning, the jihadists claimed in a statement published online, they had attacked 13 checkpoints, and seized military equipment around Sheikh Zuweid, in North Sinai province. There were further attacks across the districts of Sheikh Zuweid and al-Arish, and in Rafah, which borders the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.
The Islamists then struck two military vehicles and surrounded and besieged the local police station for several hours.
With electricity and mobile phone lines down in the area, reports from people inside Sheikh Zuweid were sparse. Local residents reported that the militants stormed the town, seizing houses in order to fire rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons from their rooftops while terrified residents sheltered inside.With electricity and mobile phone lines down in the area, reports from people inside Sheikh Zuweid were sparse. Local residents reported that the militants stormed the town, seizing houses in order to fire rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons from their rooftops while terrified residents sheltered inside.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he would change laws to make justice ‘swifter’ for terrorists in a speech at the funeral of a murdered prosecutor in Cairo on Tuesday (AP) Sheikh Mousa El-Ersh, a senior figure in Sheikh Zuweid, who was in nearby Arish when contacted by The Independent, described the fears of those in his district that they would be targeted by militants. “They target anyone who they believe cooperates with the army,” he said. Sheikh Mousa El-Ersh, a senior figure in Sheikh Zuweid, who was in nearby Arish when contacted by The Independent, described the fears of those in his district that they would be targeted by militants. “They target anyone who they believe co-operates with the army,” he said.
The Islamist attackers planted explosive devices along roads and between houses to prevent Egyptian army reinforcements and ambulances from reaching the town, according to reports from inside. It took until almost 5pm, seven hours after the first incursion, for ambulances to reach Sheikh Zuweid. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he would change laws to make justice ‘swifter’ for terrorists in a speech at the funeral of a murdered prosecutor in Cairo on Tuesday (AP) The Islamist attackers planted explosive devices along roads and between houses to prevent Egyptian army reinforcements and ambulances from reaching the town, according to reports from inside. It took until almost 5pm, seven hours after the first incursion, for ambulances to reach Sheikh Zuweid.
In response to the attacks, the Egyptian military launched air strikes in Sheikh Zuweid, using F16 fighter jets and Apache helicopters to target the area where jihadists were thought to be concentrated. In response to the attacks, the Egyptian military launched air strikes in Sheikh Zuweid, using F-16 fighter jets and Apache helicopters to target the area where jihadists were thought to be concentrated.
The attack represents the largest and most coordinated strike by the Egyptian Isis-linked group, which is now calling itself State of Sinai, undermining efforts by Egypt’s military and government to crush armed insurgents in the mostly desert peninsula. Formerly known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, the group swore allegiance to Isis last November, and is considered to have around 1,000 fighters, according to estimates by the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. The attack represents the largest and most co-ordinated strike by the Egyptian Isis-linked group, which is now calling itself State of Sinai. Formerly known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, the group swore allegiance to Isis last November, and is considered to have around 1,000 fighters, according to estimates by the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy.
A previous attack last October killed at least 31 soldiers at checkpoints around Sheikh Zuweid. In January this year, a further 26 soldiers were killed when the jihadists attacked a military base, a police checkpoint and a military hotel. Isis had urged its followers to escalate attacks during Ramadan, which started in mid-June, though it did not specify Egypt as a target.A previous attack last October killed at least 31 soldiers at checkpoints around Sheikh Zuweid. In January this year, a further 26 soldiers were killed when the jihadists attacked a military base, a police checkpoint and a military hotel. Isis had urged its followers to escalate attacks during Ramadan, which started in mid-June, though it did not specify Egypt as a target.
“The difference in today’s attack is the infiltration of Sheikh Zuweid and the preparation for urban warfare instead of hit and run attacks,” said Zack Gold, a  visiting fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies. “As attacks and military counter-strikes are ongoing, it is difficult to know if the Isis-linked militants are attempting to hold territory or simply draw the military into conflict.”“The difference in today’s attack is the infiltration of Sheikh Zuweid and the preparation for urban warfare instead of hit and run attacks,” said Zack Gold, a  visiting fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies. “As attacks and military counter-strikes are ongoing, it is difficult to know if the Isis-linked militants are attempting to hold territory or simply draw the military into conflict.”
He said there was a heightened risk to civilians now that the group had evolved from Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which claimed to be a champion of the local population, into the more aggressive State of Sinai. An Egyptian soldier watches from a post in Egypt's northern Sinai province (AP) He said there was a heightened risk to civilians now that the group had evolved from Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which claimed to be a champion of the local population, into the more aggressive State of Sinai.
An Egyptian soldier watches from a post in Egypt's northern Sinai province (AP) The security alert level across Egypt has been heightened in recent days thanks to a spate of earlier attacks that may have been timed to mark the anniversary of the overthrow of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in June 2013. On Monday, Egypt’s Attorney-General, Hisham Barakat, was killed when a car bomb struck his convoy in Cairo’s Heliopolis district. The next day, two car bombs detonated near a police station in the capital’s 6th October neighbourhood, killing three. On Monday, Egypt’s Attorney-General, Hisham Barakat, was killed when a car bomb struck his convoy in Cairo’s Heliopolis district. The next day, two car bombs detonated near a police station in the capital’s 6th October neighbourhood, killing three.
The earlier attacks were at first attributed to a little-known group, the Giza Popular Resistance, with no immediate connection either to the Muslim Brotherhood or to the State of Sinai. In a speech following General Barakat’s funeral, Mr Sisi declared: “We will make amendments to laws so we can achieve justice in the swiftest possible time.”
In a speech following Barakat’s funeral, Egypt’s President, the former general Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, declared: “We will make amendments to laws so we can achieve justice in the swiftest possible time.” Egypt’s cabinet discussed ever-harsher changes to anti-terrorism law, which could result in judges no longer being obliged to hear defence arguments, and guaranteed death sentences.
Egypt’s cabinet discussed ever-harsher changes to anti-terrorism law, which could result in judges no longer being obliged to hear defence arguments, and guaranteed death sentences. Egypt’s cabinet said the anti-terrorism law that it had approved – which needs to be signed off by Mr Sisi – would provide “quick and just deterrence” against terrorism.