CAIRO: Ten “terrorists” were killed and one was arrested in a military operation in Wahat in the Western Desert, according to a Monday video released by the Ministry of Defense.
Paratroopers, elite commando forces, and rapid intervention forces were shown landing in Wahat in the video, a week after 12 civilians, including Mexican tourists, were mistakenly killed by the military in the same area.
“Four-wheel drive armed vehicles” used by militants were destroyed in the desert, as well as a storehouse of weapons and two barrels of explosives.
Although the video was mostly about the Western Desert, it also mentioned the Right of the Martyr operation in North Sinai, ongoing for 15 days, and reported that nine “terrorists” were killed on Monday, 17 wanted suspects were arrested and 25 trenches used by militants were destroyed.
Attacks in the Western Desert have been rare, but a major militant operation in Farafra oasis in July 2014 claimed the lives of 22 border guards. The operation and other smaller-scale attacks in the western region, mostly dating back to 2014, have reportedly been claimed by the Islamic State group (IS;) North Sinai’s Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis pledged allegiance to IS in November 2014.
After a harsh military crackdown in North Sinai for months, that has further intensified in the past two weeks, Egypt’s IS affiliate posted pictures of a confrontation with land forces in the Western Desert Sept. 13, claiming the forces withdrew. Later that day, a military helicopter opened fire on the Mexican tourist convoy.
Military injures and arrests alleged militant in Wahat – still image from military video
The most recent significant attack by IS in North Sinai occurred July 1, killing 17 soldiers and losing some 200 militants to army fire, according to military spokesperson Mohamed Samir.