Attack on Egyptian Checkpoints in Sinai Kills 60

KABUL: (Middle East Press) Coordinated attacks have been launched by Takfiri militants on Egyptian’s military checkpoints killing at least 60 soldiers and injuring scores of others in the country’s violence-plagued Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday.

The Egyptian military issued a statement saying that 70 terrorists had participated in attacks on five checkpoints. It said it returned fire, killing 22 terrorists and destroying three vehicles carrying submachine guns designed for anti-aircraft fire

Assailants also fired several rounds of mortar shells at army check posts in al-Joureh, Abu Refaei and Sedrah districts on the southern outskirts of Sheikh Zuweid located about 334 kilometers (214 miles) northeast of the capital, Cairo.

The attacks came just two days after the assassination in Cairo of the country’s top prosecutor. President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi vowed on Tuesday to step up a two-year crackdown on militants.