Sunday, August 19, 2012

Four Egyptian Troops Wounded in Sinai After Raid on Suspected Militants

Officials: 4 Egyptian troops wounded in Sinai after raid on suspected militants

By Associated Press, Published: August 18

EL-ARISH, Egypt — Egyptian security officials say militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a security convoy in the Sinai Peninsula, wounding three military officers and a policeman.

The officials say the attack Saturday morning took place along a major road linking northern Sinai’s main city of el-Arish to the Egypt-Gaza border town of Rafah. The troops were returning from a raid on homes of suspected militants and had arrested two people.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.

Earlier this month, militants killed 16 Egyptian soldiers near the Israel-Gaza border.

That attack prompted authorities to take a tougher stance toward the growing militancy in the peninsula. It also led to the dismissal of Egypt’s intelligence chief and the retirement of the longtime defense minister.

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