Egypt pulls tanks out of Sinai

Around 20 armored vehicles removed from peninsula after being used in anti-terror campaign

Egyptian armored vehicles in Sinai (photo credit: screen capture AlJazeeraEnglish/YouTube)
Egyptian armored vehicles in Sinai (photo credit: screen capture AlJazeeraEnglish/YouTube)

EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) — An Egyptian security official said some 20 tanks have been withdrawn from the Sinai Peninsula after a month-long deployment in an anti-terrorism military offensive.

The tank deployment earlier this month brought complaints from Israel as the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries restricts heavy weapons in the peninsula, which borders the Jewish state.

The official said Monday that the pull-out was primarily in response to Israel concerns. He did not say how many tanks remained in the area. He spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

On Saturday, Egypt’s military vowed to keep up operations triggered by an Aug. 5 militant attack that killed 16 soldiers.

However, Sinai’s radical Islamists said that the government delegated former jihadists to negotiate a deal to stop violence.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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