BICOM

The Egyptian Army said yesterday it had launched fresh attacks against ISIS in the Sinai, killing four ISIS fighters and arresting 250 others.

More than 100 ISIS fighters and at least 22 Egyptian soldiers have been killed in the latest operation that began two months ago. Egyptian military officials are particularly concerned about intelligence reports that suggest ISIS plans to relocate fighters to the Sinai following its defeat in Iraq and Syria.

In the latest raids, Egyptian soldiers found “16 hand grenades, wireless devices and explosive circuits designed to target the [Egyptian Army], as well as eight mortar shells, rations, military clothes, and ammunition”. Egyptian forces destroyed and seized 46 vehicles and 114 motorcycles used by ISIS.

Egyptian forces also discovered and destroyed tunnels used for smuggling between Sinai and Gaza. The discovery suggests continued cooperation between Hamas and ISIS although there are reports that the two groups have a highly volatile relationship.

The latest Egyptian offensive against ISIS comes two weeks after the re-election of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi.  In November he set a three-month deadline to root out ISIS in Sinai after ISIS claimed responsibility for the bombing of a mosque in Northern Sinai that killed more than 300 people.