BICOM

An armed gang yesterday blew up a gas pipeline in North Sinai near the town of El-Arish that supplies gas to Israel and Jordan. According to security sources, an unknown armed gang attacked the pipeline and the flow of gas to Israel and Jordan was hit, forcing authorities to close the main source of gas supplying the pipeline. The explosion caused a huge blast and pillar of flames shooting into the air. No casualties were caused from the attack.

Last month, a similar style attack was thwarted along the pipeline, when six gunmen overpowered a security guard and planted an explosive device, which failed to detonate, next to the pipeline. In February a similar incident caused the pipeline to be closed for several weeks, raising fears in Israel that the interim Egypt government was stalling on the resumption of gas for political reasons. The instability in Egypt following the deposing of Mubarak has given terrorists groups the opportunity to increase their activities in Sinai. It has also recently been reported that smuggling to Gaza, via underground tunnels on the Egyptian-Gaza border, has also increased. The Egyptian army has deployed hundreds of additional soldiers in the Sinai to protect Egypt’s interests, mainly the pipeline, in the area.

Further information: BICOM Expert View: Turmoil in the Middle East – An Israeli perspective, By Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Michael Herzog