Egyptian forces killed about 15 ISIS suspected terrorists in Sinai

Egyptian said on Wednesday that police have killed 15 suspected militants in a shootout in the northern Sinai Peninsula, where they are battling an Daesh-led insurgency.

The Interior Ministry says the militants were killed during a raid on their hideout in the city of El Arish, where they were planning attacks on security forces in the coming days. It says security forces dismantled two explosive devices and seized weapons.

The statement did not say when the raid took place or whether any security forces were killed or wounded.

Meanwhile, the ISIS terror group has announced the death of one of its leaders in Sinai Peninsula.

The Egyptian army, which launched a major offensive against the militants in February, killed Abu Hamza Al Maqdisi in an air raid, Daesh said on Tuesday in a message on Telegram.

Maqdisi, a Palestinian, had been in charge of planning and training for the extremist group in the Sinai, Daesh said, without giving further details.

A security source told AFP that Maqdisi had been killed, but the army has yet a confirm the reports.

“Abu Hamza Al Maqdisi is one of the IS operatives who took part in their operations against the army,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The militant, who entered Egypt from the Gaza Strip, had been killed on Monday at Sheikh Zuweid, in North Sinai province, according to the source.

Around 300 militants and 30 soldiers have been killed since the launch of the military operation dubbed “Sinai 2018,” according to official figures.

Source: Gulf Today