21 terrorists killed, 36 arrested in Egypt

Twenty-one terrorists were killed in army raids in different Egyptian provinces during the past week, Egypt's military said today.
The army launched raids in North Sinai cities as well as Ismailia, Port Said and Daqahlia governorates killing 21 militants, including two dangerous leaders of the Sinai-based militant group Ansar Biet el-Maqdes called Hamed Abu Freeg and Yousef Abu Eta in the period from October 3 to 9, military spokesperson Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said.
The army has also arrested 36 other militants in the past week, Samir said in a statement.
Six vehicles and 13 motorcycles used by terrorists in their attacks against army and police personnel as well as 11 tunnels leading to Gaza were also destroyed.

Meanwhile, state-run MENA news agency reported that the military has destroyed a total of 1,813 smuggling tunnels in the Sinai peninsula since January, 2011.
The network of smuggling tunnels connects the desert region with the Palestinian Gaza Strip, controlled by the Islamist Hamas movement.

North Sinai has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January, 2011 Egyptian Revolution that toppled former dictator Hosni Mubarak.
Militant attacks targeting police and the military increased after the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last year.
In July, militants attacked a military checkpoint in Al-Wadi Al-Gedid governorate in southern Egypt, killing 21 Egyptian border guards and injured four others.

The military has launched security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.