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Security expert: Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis 'gasping for breath'

As Egyptian terrorist group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis swore allegiance to the Islamic State, several Egyptian security experts dismissed its significance, citing strong gains by the army against the Sinai-based group.
Egyptian policemen inspect the site where the militants fired mortar in Egypt's northern Sinai of el-Arish on late July 13, 2014, at a military base, killing a soldier and seven civilians, included 23 personas injured. AFP PHOTO / STR        (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
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CAIRO — Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, which has made numerous, painful terrorist attacks against the Egyptian government over the past three years, leading to the deaths of hundreds of army soldiers and police, broadcast an audio recording announcing its pledge of allegiance to the most funded, organized and influential (terrorist) organization at the moment — the Islamic State (IS).

Meanwhile, a leader in Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis called for the organization's targets, which have been concentrated in Sinai, to be shifted to Cairo to hit the ministries and headquarters of the Egyptian government.

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