Terrorist blasts kill almost 34 Egyptian soldiers north Sinai
CAIRO,(ST)_Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has called for urgent national defense council meeting on Friday over north Sinai terrorist blasts that killed at least 34 Egyptian soldiers and wounded 50 others, media sources reported.
The sources clarified that the soldiers were killed and wounded when a car bomb exploded at a security checkpoint in Karm al-Kwardis in Sheikh Zuwaid north Sinai.
The bodies of the victims and the injured soldiers have been admitted to the military hospital and the general hospital in Al-Arish, the biggest city in North Sinai, Al-Ahram’s Arabic news website reported.
Medical teams are being sent to Al-Arish’s military hospital, said Health Minister Adel El-Adawi.
Al-Arish’s general hospital called on residents to donate blood in order to save the injured soldiers.
Earlier a terrorist blast ripped through two armored vehicles for the Egyptian army in Sheikh Zuwaid.
Today’s blasts are the third against security forces in just a week.
The agenda of the terrorist organizations in the northern edge of Sinai is similar to that of the Muslim brotherhood as they have carried out bloody attacks against the Egyptian security forces and army since the ouster of Mohammad Morsi in July 2013.
Al-Sisi calls urgent meeting over Sinia attack
After the attack, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called for an urgent meeting with the National Defense Council to discuss the security situation in North Sinai, according to Egypt’s state-run TV.
The National Defense Council is chaired by the President and includes the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Parliament, Defense Minister and the Commanders of the Egyptian armed forces.
Clashes in Cairo, Alexandria
On the other hand, fierce clashes broke out today between security forces and members of Muslim brotherhood in Cairo and Alexandria.
The member of Muslim brotherhood burned a car for a police officer.
Dozens of Muslim brotherhood members were arrested east and west Alexandria after they took part in protests during which they shouted slogans against police and armed forces.
later on, the Beirut-based al-Mayadeen TV channel reported that Egyptian warplanes struck sites of armed groups in al-Arish and Shiekh Zuwaid.
Basma Qaddour