Does Cairo need to rethink its Sinai strategy?
Despite the government’s measures to eliminate terrorists from the Sinai Peninsula, the groups are thriving.
CAIRO — “We have gotten rid of 90% of terrorism and insurgency in the Sinai.” “We are striking pre-emptive blows to destroy terrorism sources.” “Soon we will declare Sinai a terror-free zone.”
With such statements, the Egyptian authorities reassure citizens that they are in full control of the situation in the Sinai Peninsula. At the same time, Sinai has been witnessing ongoing and violent terrorist operations targeting members of the Egyptian armed forces and police with heavy weapons and explosives.
Although F-16 and Apache aircrafts continue to strike the terrorists’ dens, terrorist groups are thriving in Sinai, which is seen as their safe haven to carry out plans in a bid to take the area out of state control.
A terror attack in October targeted one of the armed forces’ checkpoints in northern Sinai. The attackers, traveling in SUVs, used mortar shells and bullets to kill 12 members of the armed forces and wound six others. This prompted a fierce retaliation on the part of the Egyptian armed forces, which launched massive airstrikes for three consecutive hours, destroying terrorist groups’ hideouts and weapons caches.
