CAIRO: An Egyptian General told Reuters news agency that Egyptian troops killed 20 “extremists” in air raids and attacks following an attack on check points late on Tuesday night in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. Eyewitnesses confirmed the reports, saying they spotted helicopters chasing and firing at 4×4 vehicles suspected of carrying the “extremists.” The air strikes took place near the impoverished town of Sheikh Zuwaid, 10 kilometers from the borders. The unnamed General said that the troops were successful in entering the village of Toumah and that they have killed 20 “extremists and destroyed three armored vehicles belonging to the militants.” The Egyptian general said the operation is still going on into Wednesday morning. The General added that they had received information that the militants who attacked a border crossing point on Sunday and killed 16 soldiers and injured 7 others and stole an armored car in an attempt to cross the border into Israel. The military issued a statement on Monday saying that an extremist group of about 35 men are behind the attack and President Mohamed Morsi vowed to avenge the dead soldiers. On Tuesday night, militants shot at several checkpoints in the city of al-Arish, in northern Sinai in addition to attacking checkpoints in Rafah, Egypt's closest point to the Gaza Strip. The ministry of interior said in a statement that three policemen and one civilian were wounded in the attacks.
