(JNS) Yaakov Lappin - Efforts by Egypt to crack down on the Islamic State-affiliated terror group in Sinai appear to be making significant progress, says Dr. Shaul Shay, a former deputy head of Israel's National Security Council and currently director of research at the Institute for Policy and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. An Israeli defense source estimated last year that the ISIS-linked Sinai Province had between 500 and 1,000 members. Egypt's campaign has successfully repressed Sinai Province's attacks, and terrorism has discernably decreased, though not vanished, stated Shay. "The Egyptian military is activating very high pressure in northern Sinai, which is the main arena of this operation, as well as the central arena." Egypt's government is accompanying the massive military effort with a civilian component, communicating with local Bedouin chiefs and creating long-term infrastructure and economic assistance programs. Shay said signs have already appeared showing increased cooperation between the Egyptian state and the Sinai Bedouin community.
2018-11-02 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive