This archive report was first published on 29 September 2019.
On September 29, 2019, Egyptian security forces clashed with suspected militants in North Sinai, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals.
The interior ministry stated that the militants were planning hostile acts targeting military and police forces, aiming to destabilize national security.
According to the ministry, the militants were hiding in a farm in El-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, and opened fire when security forces approached, leading to the deaths.
Graphic images of the alleged militants' bodies were released along with the ministry's statement.
Authorities also discovered a cache of weapons, including an explosive belt, several rifles, and an explosive device.
The incident follows recent military operations in Sinai, which authorities claim have killed 118 suspected militants, with nine soldiers killed and one wounded.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi paid tribute to the dead personnel, describing terrorism as a 'cancer still trying to kidnap the nation.'
Since February 2018, Egypt's military has launched a nationwide offensive against Islamist militants, primarily focusing on North Sinai, where the Islamic State group maintains a significant presence.
