October 2016 Sinai attacks
Part of the Sinai insurgency
Bir al-Abd is located in Egypt
Bir al-Abd
Bir al-Abd
Bir al-Abd (Egypt)
LocationEgypt Bir al-Abed, North Sinai, Egypt
Date14 October 2016
TargetSoldiers of the Egyptian Armed Forces
Attack type
Bomb attack, shooting
WeaponsMortar rounds, rockets and assault rifles
Deaths12
Injured8
Perpetrators Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

The October 2016 Sinai attacks was a terrorist attack on an Egyptian army checkpoint in the city of Bir al-Abed, Egypt (located 40 kilometers west of Al-Arish), on 14 October 2016. A group of militants armed with assault rifles and heavier weapons attacked an Egyptian army checkpoint while mortar rounds and rockets were fired directed to a military checkpoint. In response, the Egyptian military forces killed around 15 militants following the attack. The Islamic State's Wilayat Sinai branch claimed responsibility in a statement released later the same day.[1][2][3]

According to Al Jazeera, Bir al-Abed had been largely spared the violence that had rocked northern Sinai by insurgents following the ouster of Morsi 3 years ago.[2] The attack came weeks after Egypt marks its first anniversary of the Metrojet Flight 9268 crash over the Sinai Peninsula on October 31, 2015.

Attack

The attack began early in the morning when militants approached and attacked a military checkpoint. The attack resulted the deaths of 12 Egyptian army personnel and wounded six others.[1]

The Egyptian army spokesman said in a statement that soldiers clashed with the assailants in the northern Sinai. A police official and medic told Agence France-Presse that mortar rounds and rockets were fired towards the army post by militants. The Egyptian army eliminated at least 15 suspected militants in response to the attack.[1]

Responsibility

The Islamic State's Wilayat Sinai branch quickly claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on social messaging app, Telegram. The statement said that its "soldiers" were "safe and sound" and had seized arms and ammunition's from the Egyptian Army during the attack on the military checkpoint.[1]

Reactions

Domestic

Following the attack, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi offered his condolences and sympathy to the families of the 12 Egyptian soldiers who were killed, referring to them as "heroes."[4]

International

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "12 Egypt soldiers killed in Sinai attack: army". Al-Monitor. Agence France-Presse. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b "A dozen Egyptian troops killed in checkpoint attack". Al Jazeera. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  3. ^ Withnall, Adam. "Egypt: 12 dead in Isis attack on security checkpoint in central Sinai". The Independent. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Egypt's Sisi mourns soldiers killed in North Sinai attack". Al-Ahram. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Bahrain Condemns Terror Attack On Army Checkpoint In Egypt's North Sinai". Bernama. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  6. ^ "EU condemns attack on border post in Sinai". KUNA. 15 October 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d "World condemns North Sinai terrorist attack". Egypt State Information Service (SIS). 15 October 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Lebanon premier offers condolences to Egypt over Sinai attack". 16 October 2016. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Hariri condemns Sinai attack, expresses solidarity with Egypt". 17 October 2016. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Terror Attacks in Egypt's Sinai Denounced". Financial Tribune. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  11. ^ Guldogan, Diyar (15 October 2016). "Turkey 'strongly' condemns attack in Egypt's Sinai". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  12. ^ "UAE condemns Sinai terror attack". Gulf News. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
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