Tutku Şenen
31 July 2016•Update: 01 August 2016
CAIRO
More than 40 militants were killed by an Egyptian airstrike in the restive Sinai Peninsula on Sunday, according to a local security source.
Jet fighters struck an ammunition depot in North Sinai’s Rafah city, the source told Anadolu Agency.
“At least 46 militants were killed in the attack,” the source added anonymously due to restrictions to speaking to media.
Meanwhile, the source said that two leading members of Daesh affiliate, “Welayet Sinai” (Province of Sinai) group, were killed in an army operation.
The source identified the two slain militants as Sami Shuaib and Mohammed Zeygan, declining to give details about the operation.
There was no comment from Welayet Sinai on the claim.
Since Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first freely-elected president, was ousted in a 2013 military coup, Egyptian security forces have waged a fierce campaign against Sinai-based militants.
The campaign has been accompanied by frequent attacks on army and police personnel deployed in the restive peninsula.
The most active militant group in Sinai is Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which has sworn allegiance to Daesh terrorist group in late 2014 and changed its name to “Welayet Sinai”.
