Egyptian Soldiers Killed, Wounded by Islamic Militants in Sinai Peninsula - East Idaho News
World News

Egyptian Soldiers Killed, Wounded by Islamic Militants in Sinai Peninsula

  Published at

GETTY 91213 EgyptBorder?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1378974915580SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images(CAIRO) — A group with radical Islamist ties claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s car bombings in the Sinai Peninsula that left at least nine Egyptian soldiers dead and 17 wounded.

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis took credit for the dual blasts in a Facebook posting and also claimed it was responsible for the failed assassination attempt last week on the life of Egypt’s interior minister.

It’s believed the group is retaliating for raids on rebel hideouts in northern Sinai that left three dozen fighters dead last week.  Ansar Beit al-Maqdis also promised more attacks would follow.

According to witnesses, Wednesday’s incident occurred when suicide car bombers drove their vehicles to the gates of a military intelligence service building in Rafah.  One car blew up at the checkpoint while the other driver managed to detonate his bombs inside the complex, destroying a two-story building.

The Sinai area is now heavily patrolled by Egyptian forces following the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi two months ago.  Meanwhile, the Rafah crossing adjoining the Gaza Strip has been shut down.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION