Egypt says its forces kill 8 suspected jihadists in Sinai

9 January 2018, 2:52 pm

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CAIRO — Egypt says its security forces have killed eight suspected jihadists in a shootout in the northern Sinai Peninsula.

The Interior Ministry says the firefight broke out when the forces raided a suspected hideout in el-Arish city. It says the jihadists were planning attacks targeting security forces, and were in possession of explosives, rifles and ammunition.

Egypt has been battling Islamist insurgents in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula for years, but the insurgency became far more deadly after the 2013 military ouster of Mohammed Morsi.

An Islamic State affiliate based in the Sinai has carried out a number of high-profile attacks in recent years, mainly targeting security forces and Egypt’s Christian minority.

— Agencies