Sinai Province, Egypt’s Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) affiliate, launched rockets towards an airport in the Sinai peninsula used by United Nations peacekeeping troops, news outlets report, quoting security sources.
No casualties were reported, according to the news articles.
The “Welayat Sinai” (“Sinai Province”) terrorist group, which changed its name to Ansar Beit al-Maqdis after pledging loyalty to ISIS, claimed responsibility for the attack on several Twitter accounts linked to it, reportedly saying it was carried out in retaliation for the police taking a local woman into custody.
“Terrorist elements fired mortar shells at Al-Goura Airport late Tuesday,” an anonymous Egyptian military source told Anadolu Agency.
“Flashes from explosions were seen in the area where the international peacekeeping forces are located. Terrorists launched rocket fire in the area, there are no casualties,” an anonymous Egyptian military source told Sputnik Arabic.
Reuters points out the details of the attack are murky and could not be immediately confirmed. Some sources claim the rockets hit the inside of the airport, while others say they fell outside.
“Ansar Bait al-Maqdis emerged after the 2011 Egyptian revolution, which forced former President Hosni Mubarak out of power after an over 30-year rule,” notes Sputnik. “The militants aim to topple Egypt’s current government and are believed to be responsible for a recent increase in attacks on government forces in the North Sinai Governorate.”
“Sinai Province had so far focused its bombing and shooting attacks on members of Egypt’s security forces, who mounted the country’s toughest crackdown on Islamists after the military removed President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood from power following mass protests against his rule,” adds Reuters.