41 killed in clashes, attacks across Egypt's Sinai Peninsula
May 25, 2016 9:51 A.M. (Updated: May 25, 2016 5:03 P.M.)
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=771628

CAIRO (Ma’an) -- More than 40 people were killed on Tuesday evening across
Egypt’s northern Sinai Peninsula, Egyptian security sources said.

Egyptian military sources told Ma’an that 30 militants were killed in
clashes with the army near the village of al-Jurah south of Sheikh Zuweid in
the North Sinai governorate.

Security sources also told Ma’an that an Egyptian army commanding officer
and three soldiers were killed while inspecting a house booby-trapped by
suspected Sinai Province militants in Sheikh Zuweid.

Three other Egyptian soldiers were shot and injured during another house
inspection, the sources added.

Meanwhile, a Bedouin civilian was killed by an explosion in his own vehicle
in the village of al-Birth south of Rafah city. Egyptian security officials
said Sinai Province militants booby trapped the victim’s vehicle because “he
cooperated with the Egyptian army.”

In response, the sources added, Egyptian air forces bombarded three
vehicles, reportedly killing six militants affiliated to Sinai Province
group.

Egyptian military and police forces have been the target of ongoing attacks,
which have increased since Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi took
power from democratically-elected Muhammad Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood
in 2013.

The Egyptian president came under attack following his violent suppression
of Muslim Brotherhood members following his rise to power, which Sisi has
argued is necessary to deter future attacks in the Sinai and across Egypt.

A militant group responsible for a majority of attacks on military
personnel, Beit Ansar al-Maqdis, aligned with the Islamic State group in
November 2014, changing its name to Sinai Province.