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The Weakening of Islamic State in Sinai

(Institute for National Security Studies) Yoram Schweitzer - Wilayat Sinai, an organization identified with the Islamic State, has recently suffered a series of serious blows from the Egyptian army. Most prominent was an air strike in early August 2016 that killed dozens of senior commanders. The recent decline in the intensity of Wilayat Sinai's attacks against the Egyptian army, alongside a drop in its media activity and propaganda systems, may point to cumulative damage to the group and a decline in its strength. However, it still carries out almost daily attacks on army and police posts in the areas of el-Arish, Sheikh Zuweid, and Rafah. The defeat of Wilayat Sinai could contribute greatly to the overall fight against the Islamic State and its image among Muslim populations. Therefore, supporting Egypt in its efforts to eliminate the organization is of the utmost importance. The writer is head of the research program on Terror and Low-Intensity Conflict at the INSS, following a distinguished career in the Israeli intelligence community.
2016-09-02 00:00:00
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