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Insurgents Kill 7 Security Force Members in Northern Sinai, Egypt Says

Edward Yeranian

   Egypt says Terrorists killedsevenmembers of itssecurity forces during
   three attacks on checkpoints near the northern Sinai town of el-Arish.

   The Interior Ministry said Four terrorists, including a man thought to
   be a suicide bomber,were also killed during ensuinggunbattles, which
   occurred late Tuesday.

   Qatari-owned Al Jazeera TV reported that the Islamic State militant
   group claimed responsibility for the attacks on itsAmaqwebsite. VOA
   could not independently confirm the claim, nor is it clear who is
   behind the website.

   Ashmawi trial

   Meanwhile, Egyptian state TV said the attacks coincided with the start
   of the trial of suspected officer-turned-terrorist Hisham al-Ashmawi,
   who last month was handed over to the Egyptian military by Libyan armed
   forces loyal to Gen. Khalifa Hafter.Ashmawiis wanted in connection with
   several high-profile attacks in recent years, including the 2015
   explosion that killed General Prosecutor Hisham Barakat.Ashmawiwas
   captured inDerna, Libya, last October.
   HilalKhashan, who teaches political science at the American University
   of Beirut, told VOA he didn't think that the Sinai attack was related
   toAshmawi'strial or otherongoing events, including the conference in
   Bahrain aimed at ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

   Khashansaid he thought the"insurgents in the northern Sinai launch
   attacks wherever they are capable," and that they cannot mount
   operations "on a daily basis." Therefore, he said, "if the attacks take
   place during the conference in Bahrain, this is coincidental."
   Khashansaid he thought the"main support for the insurgents is coming
   from the Sinai Bedouin." He said the Egyptian government had "failed to
   integrate the Bedouin into Egyptian society" and had not been
   "sympathetic to their social or economic plight."

   Others blamed

   Egyptian media, however, accuse other countries and groups, including
   Iran, Qatar, Turkey, Hezbollah and Hamas, of supporting the militants.
   Al Jazeera TV said the militants were "driving 10 four-wheel-drive
   vehicles" during the attacks. It was not clear how such vehicles could
   have been brought into the Sinai without the help of an outside
   country.
   Several anti-Egyptian websites also claimed the Sinai attacks were
   related to thesudden collapseand death of ousted former President
   Mohammed Morsi in a Cairo courtroom June 17.

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