Egypt army kills 15 militants in Sinai air raids

Egyptian army helicopters launched missile strikes at militant strongholds in the Sinai peninsula on Tuesday. Thirteen missiles were fired at positions in the city of Sheikh Zuweid, with army helicopters also targeting weapon caches. Three houses were struck in the attacks, with armored vehicles blockading a house where militants were believed to be a hiding. Egyptian state TV said 15 militants were killed in the operations. A security source told AFP the operation was the "biggest aerial assault of its kind in Sinai." Two people were arrested after the first airstrike, Egyptian officials told Ma'an. Egyptian forces on Saturday arrested the commander of an Al-Qaeda-linked group in the Sinai peninsula. A senior Egyptian official told Ma'an that Muhammad Ibrahim, 40, was appointed as the leader of Al-Qaeda in Sinai after escaping from prison following the 2011 Egyptian revolution. In early August, Egypt's military killed 15 militants in the Sinai city. Since the military coup that toppled Morsi after massive nationwide protests against his rule, militant groups have launched almost daily attacks on troops and police in Sinai. Source: Maan