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Revision as of 15:34, 16 September 2012 by Greyshark09 (talk | contribs) (moved from operation Eagle)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Sinai insurgency is a radical Islamist militant campaign in Sinai peninsula, initiating in early 2011, as a fallout of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. The actions of those Islamist elements, largely composed of radicals among the local Bedouins, drew a harsh response from interim Egyptian government since mid-2011 as Operation Eagle. However, attacks against government and foreign facilities in the area have continued by mid-2012, resulting in massive crackdown by new Egyptian government nicknamed Operation Sinai.
Background
Main articles: 2011 Egyptian Revolution and Egypt–Israel Peace TreatyFollowing the overthrow of the Egyptian regime of Mubarak in 2011, the country became increasingly distabilized. Radical Islamic elements in the Sinai peninsula exploited the opportunity, using the unique environment of the largely demilitarized Sinai Peninsula, in launching several waves of attacks upon Egyptian military and commercial facilities.
History
First attacks
Commercial facilities
First insurgency attacks came sporadically from late February 2011, concentrating on the Arab Gas Pipeline, running into Jordan, Syria and Lebanon and its offshoot from al-Arish to Israel - constantly disrupting Egyptian gas supply to the entire region.
July 2011 Egyptian police station attack
On 30 July, militants staged an attack on an Egyptian police station in El-Arish, killing six.
On 2 August, a group claiming to be the Sinai wing of Al-Qaeda declared its intention to create an Islamic caliphate in the Sinai.
Operation Eagle
Main article: Operation Eagle Further information: 2011 southern Israel cross-border attacksIn mid-2011, a squad of unrecognized Islamic terrorists infiltrated Israeli border from Sinai, launching coordinated attacks against Israeli military and civilians. Following bloody clashes in the south, Israel accused Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza and launched retaliation attack, escalating the tension with Palestinian militants.
August 2012 attack
Main article: 2012 Egyptian-Israeli border attackOn 5 August 2012 a group of armed men ambushed an Egyptian military base in the Sinai Peninsula, killing 16 Egyptian soldiers and stealing two Egyptian armored cars, and then infiltrated into Israel. The attackers rammed through the Kerem Shalom border crossing in Israel, while one of the vehicles exploded. The attackers then engaged in a firefight with soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, and six attackers were killed during the firefight. No Israelis were injured. The attackers were dressed as Bedouins and attacked with guns and rocket-propelled grenades. 35 attackers took part in this attack on the Egyptian base.
Operation Sinai
August 2012 attack on Egyptian armed forces triggered a crackdown, led by the Egyptian Army, Police special forces and the Air Force, sweeping Sinai from Jehadist terrorist militants. The operation was named Operation Sinai (2012).
Casualties
Total casualties since late July 2011: 27–35 Egyptian soldiers and 2 civilians killed; 2 Israeli soldiers and 6 civilians killed; 57 Islamist miitants and suspects killed. Total 94 mortal casualties.
- 30 July 2011–6 Egyptian security forces killed.
- 15 August 2011–1 Islamist militant killed, 6 captured.
- 18 August 2011– 2011 southern Israel cross-border attacks, 6 Israeli civilians and two soldiers and 5 Egyptian soldiers killed, as well as 10 attackers.
- 5 August 2012–2012 Egyptian–Israeli border attack, 16-24 Egyptian soldiers and 8 Islamist militants killed.
- 8 August 2012–20 militants killed in Sinai.
- 12 August 2012–7 suspected militants killed.
- 13 August 2012–armed men shot dead tribal leader Khalaf Al-Menahy and his son.
- 29 August 2012–Egyptian Army tanks and helicopters attack Jihadi cells, resulting in 11 dead militants and 23 more taken prisoner with no reported military casualties.
See also
References
- Awad, Marwa (16 August 2011). "Egypt army operation nets militants in Sinai-sources". Reuters Africa. Cairo. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
- Hassan, Amro (17 August 2011). "Nearly 20 alleged gas pipeline saboteurs arrested". Los Angeles Times. Cairo. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
Concerns over the security situation in Sinai intensified on Aug. 2 when a group referring to itself as Al Qaeda's wing in Sinai called for the creation of an Islamic caliphate in the peninsula.
- No byline. "Egyptian Who Shot 7 is Dead". The New York Times. January 8, 1986. URL accessed on December 31, 2006.
- Yaakov Katz (6 August 2012). "The Sinai attack: Blow by blow". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- "Egypt vows strong response to Sinai attack". Al Jazeera. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- Yoav Zitun (6 August 2012). "Watch: IAF strikes Sinai terror cell". Yedioth Ahronot. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- Yaakov Katz and Herb Keinon (6 August 2012). "Israel considers request for more Egyptian troops in Sinai". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- "Egypt's Army announced Saturday that they killed 32 'criminals' in an ongoing anti-terrorism offensive in the Sinai Peninsula called 'Operation Sinai'."