Soldiers killed in attacks in Egypt's Sinai

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Ambushes by armed men in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula have killed at least 15 soldiers and two civilians, according to Egyptian security and medical officials.

The attacks early on Thursday, that also wounded at least 19 other soldiers and several more civilians, came as Egypt continues its battle against armed groups operating in the northern Sinai, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Gunmen opened fire on soldiers with automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades at five separate checkpoints throughout the northern Sinai region including near Sheikh Zuweid, east of the provincial capital of al-Arish, the Agence France-Press news agency reported.

Egyptian military reports also allege that at least 15 armed men were also killed by the military forces during the attacks, but the toll could not be verified by medics.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/04/soldiers-killed-attacks-egypt-sinai-150402063034141.html

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1. Officials: Roadside bomb kills 6 soldiers in Egypt’s Sinai

EL-ARISH, Egypt — A roadside bomb attack on an armored vehicle in Egypt’s restive northern Sinai killed six soldiers on Sunday, including an officer, military officials said.

The attack took place as the country’s defense minister carried out a limited military reshuffle, replacing the commander of the army division responsible for securing northern Sinai. Maj. Gen. Mohammed el-Shahat, who only commanded Egypt’s second field army for about a year, was promoted to head of military intelligence; el-Shahat’s deputy, Maj. Gen. Nasser el-Assi, will replace him.

El-Assi inherits a simmering Sinai-based Islamic insurgency that continues to successfully target army soldiers and police officers despite an intensive military campaign. The attacks surged following the 2013 military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

The largest Sinai-based militant group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group last year and now refers to itself as the group’s Sinai Province. The group claimed responsibility on Twitter for Sunday’s deadly attack.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/egypt-court-sentences-us-egyptian-citizen-to-life-in-prison/2015/04/11/dbd37b4e-e0b0-11e4-b6d7-b9bc8acf16f7_story.html

[KoKo]

2. and this part at end is interesting about the shuffle for E-Navy and Yemen:

The reshuffle in military leadership also included the commander of the Egyptian navy at a time when the navy could begin playing an increasingly prominent role, because of the Yemeni crisis. Egyptian warships are already deployed off the coast of Yemen to secure the strategically vital Bab el-Mandab strait — the gateway to the Suez Canal.

Egypt is currently a main member of the Saudi-led military coalition launching airstrikes against Shiite rebels who have conquered the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and forced out the Western-backed president. Egyptian military leaders have repeatedly stated their willingness to commit ground troops, if necessary, to the operation.

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3. I think Egypt has it's hands full already.

But I'm waiting to see how the war develops some more. "Combat creates clarity" or something like that. In a few weeks or a month it will be clear enough who knows what they are doing and who is faking it.