Date: Monday, 19 March 2018
Military claims it destroyed hundreds of hideouts, munition and weapons depots during the operation. 345 suspected militants and fleeing criminals have been arrested, according to the statement
FILE PHOTO: Egyptian soldiers and police special forces are seen during a launch of a major assault against militants in the Sinai peninsula.\ HANDOUT/ REUTERS>> Hamas' cahooting with Islamic groups in Sinai puts it square in Egypt's gunsights | Analysis <<
The military claimed it also destroyed 400 hideouts, munition and weapons depots and dismantled 93 explosive devices during the operation.
345 suspected militants and fleeing criminals have been arrested, according to the statement.
20 Egyptian soldiers have been killed since Egypt launched the wide-scale operation more than a month ago.
Egypt has been battling Islamic militants for years, but the insurgency gathered steam and grew deadlier after the 2013 ouster of Mohammed Morsi by the military, led by current Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi. Morsi was an Islamist president whose one year in office proved divisive.
https://www.haaretz.com/misc/writers/1.4968124
