Terrorists fear developing Sinai’s Bir El-Abd will mark their end

Sarah Rashad

Egypt’s security forces neutralized 18 terrorists in a shootout in North Sinai’s Bir El-Abd city, the interior ministry announced in a Sunday statement.

The raid came days after the armed forces said Thursday that 10 military personnel were killed or wounded in an IED attack.

An officer, a non-commissioned officer, and eight soldiers were killed or injured when their armored vehicle was blown up in Bir El-Abd city.

Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attack that came two days before the October 1973 war anniversary and only five days following the Sinai Liberation Day on April 25.

The ministry said it seized 13 automatic weapons, three explosive devices and two suicide belts.

According to the statement, the operation came within efforts exerted by the security authorities to track down terrorist elements threatening national interests.

The industrial zone in Bir El-Abd stretches over 150 acres for industrial activities, 54 acres for roads, 27 acres for services and 6.5 acres for green spaces.

The industrial zone in the area is dedicated to medium industries, such as wood, metal, chemical and food industries. Investors and entrepreneurs will also be given facilitation and incentives such as reduced land and facilities prices.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said during an inauguration ceremony on April 22 that the state has spent 600 billion Egyptian pounds ($38 billion) on Sinai infrastructure projects, highlighting the state’s commitment to reconstructing Sinai.

Political analyst Mohamed Faraj Abulnoor has affirmed that developing Sinai cannot be skipped, noting that Egypt is still paying the price for refraining from developing the eastern part and leaving it to the criminals and extremists.

He believed that terrorism realizes that its end in Egypt will be by building Sinai, as it will become easier to track and block the roads in front of it, because the terrorists found an opportunity to turn Sinai into a den thanks to the vast areas and the ideal desert to hide.

He further expressed his confidence in the Sinai development efforts this time, noting that the quick positive results are definitely good signs that will bear good outcomes.