Skip to main content
Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

President: Egypt faces long fight to defeat Sinai militants

An Egyptian soldier mans a checkpoint in el-Arish, 290 kilometers (180 miles) east of Cairo, North Sinai, Egypt, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi told the nation in a televised address Saturday to prepare for a long fight to defeat Islamic extremists following a wave of attacks on security forces in the Sinai Peninsula. An Islamic State-linked group in Egypt claimed responsibility for a string of bomb and gun attacks Thursday night targeting Egyptian military positions that killed at least 30 security force members. (AP Photo)
An Egyptian soldier mans a checkpoint in el-Arish, 290 kilometers (180 miles) east of Cairo, North Sinai, Egypt, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi told the nation in a televised address Saturday to prepare for a long fight to defeat Islamic extremists following a wave of attacks on security forces in the Sinai Peninsula. An Islamic State-linked group in Egypt claimed responsibility for a string of bomb and gun attacks Thursday night targeting Egyptian military positions that killed at least 30 security force members. (AP Photo) An Egyptian soldier mans a checkpoint in el-Arish, 290 kilometers (180 miles) east of Cairo, North Sinai, Egypt, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi told the nation in a televised address Saturday to prepare for a long fight to defeat Islamic extremists following a wave of attacks on security forces in the Sinai Peninsula. An Islamic State-linked group in Egypt claimed responsibility for a string of bomb and gun attacks Thursday night targeting Egyptian military positions that killed at least 30 security force members. (AP Photo)

By Associated Press 2 min read

El-ARISH, Egypt (AP) – Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi told his nation to prepare for a long fight to defeat Islamic extremists Saturday following a wave of attacks on security forces in the Sinai Peninsula.

El-Sissi made his televised address as military commanders announced plans to forge a unified command for all armed forces in Sinai.

“We will not leave Sinai for the terrorists,” el-Sissi said.

Extremists targeting Egyptian military positions killed 31 security force members in a sophisticated and multi-pronged set of attacks Thursday night.

An Islamic State-linked group in Egypt claimed responsibility, but el-Sissi laid the blame on the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement he ousted from power in 2013.