(Reuters) Large-scale assaults by Islamist militants on Egyptian military and government positions in northern Sinai have subsided, but militants have shifted tactics, staging more individual attacks, deploying snipers and planting explosives, security sources say. Their ability to temporarily overrun villages near Bir al-Abd in northwest Sinai this summer shows security remains fragile. At least 15 people have been killed by explosive devices around Bir al-Abd since Oct. 10. Oded Berkowitz, a security analyst, said militant attacks had fallen to 15 a month from 40 in late 2017 as Egypt improved security on its borders with Gaza and Libya. Militant sniper operations, which have shifted west from the Gaza border to the outskirts of el-Arish, rose to at least 18 between January and September 2020, Egyptian security sources said. Militants have also kidnapped and killed those they accuse of collaborating with the state.
2020-11-09 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive