ICC Note:

As the Egyptian military continues to clash with Islamic militants in Sinai, the death toll is said to be rising. ISIS has become much more active in the Sinai Peninsula since their promise to eradicate Christians from the area. While the Egyptian government has been reluctant to intervene, anti-terrorism operations have been active in the attempt to push out these oppressors. The most recent fight resulted in the deaths of 10 soldiers and 15 militants, showing the determination of both sides.

3/24/2017 Egypt (NY Times) – Ten Egyptian soldiers and 15 militants were killed during a raid on an Islamist insurgent base in the restive Sinai Peninsula, a military spokesman said Thursday.

The deaths underscored the strength of the Sinai insurgency, led by an Islamic State affiliate, despite almost four years of concerted Egyptian counterterrorism operations. In recent months Sinai militants have expanded their area of operations, targeted Christian civilians and fired rockets into Israel.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Tamer el-Refai, an Egyptian military spokesman, said the Egyptian soldiers died in two roadside blasts on Wednesday during an operation that had targeted two Islamist storehouses in the deserts of central Sinai, outside their stronghold in the north of the peninsula.

Among the soldiers killed were three officers and seven enlisted men, Mr. Refai said.

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