Egypt's Al-Arish airport shelled, army officer killed

By Mohamed al-Rayes

CAIRO

An army officer was killed and another two were injured when unidentified attackers shelled the Al-Arish airport in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, according to an army spokesman.

The attack took place during a visit to the city by the Egyptian ministers of defense and interior.

“The Al-Arish airport was targeted today in an [artillery] barrage that led to the death of an army officer and injury of two others and partially damaged a helicopter,” Egyptian army spokesman Tamer al-Refai said in a statement.

“Security personnel opened fire on the source of the attack and are now combing the surrounding area for the perpetrators,” al-Rifai said.

Tuesday’s attack, he added, had occurred during a visit to the area by Defense Minister Sedki Sobhi and Interior Minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar to inspect the security situation in Al-Arish city.

The Sinai Peninsula has remained at the epicenter of a militant insurgency since mid-2013, when the army ousted Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, in a bloody military coup.

By Mohamed al-Rayes

CAIRO

An army officer was killed and another two were injured when unidentified attackers shelled the Al-Arish airport in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, according to an army spokesman.

The attack took place during a visit to the city by the Egyptian ministers of defense and interior.

“Security personnel opened fire on the source of the attack and are now combing the surrounding area for the perpetrators,” al-Rifai said.

Tuesday’s attack, he added, had occurred during a visit to the area by Defense Minister Sedki Sobhi and Interior Minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar to inspect the security situation in Al-Arish city.

The Sinai Peninsula has remained at the epicenter of a militant insurgency since mid-2013, when the army ousted Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, in a bloody military coup.