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Reuters

Islamic State group jihadists launched an unprecedented wave of attacks  yesterday on Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula that killed at least 70 people, in a major challenge to President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi.
 F-16 warplanes bombarded the militants as they fought police and soldiers on the streets of the North Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid after striking military checkpoints in a surprise attack after dawn.
 The violence came two days after state prosecutor Hisham Barakat was assassinated in a Cairo car bombing. He was the most senior government official killed in the jihadist insurgency.
 In the capital  yesterday, police killed senior Muslim Brotherhood member Nasser al-Houfi and eight others during a raid on an apartment, security officials  said.
 The Sinai attacks, in which car bombs were used, were the most brazen in their scope since jihadists launched an insurgency in 2013 following the army's overthrow of Islamist president Mohammed Mursi.
 The victims included several civilians, according to security and medical officials, who said 38 militants were also killed.
 "It's war. The battle is ongoing," a senior military official said.
 "It's unprecedented, in the number of terrorists involved and the type of weapons they are using."
 Militants took over rooftops and fired rocket-propelled grenades at a police station in Sheikh Zuweid after mining its exits to block reinforcements, a police colonel said.
 F-16 jets struck the militants in several locations in the town, officials and a witness said.
 "There are gunmen on the streets. They have planted mines everywhere," said the witness in Sheikh Zuweid.
 Explosions were heard and plumes of smoke were seen over Sheikh Zuweid from the neighbouring Palestinian Gaza Strip, witnesses said.
 The Islamic State group said its jihadists surrounded the police station after launching attacks on 15 checkpoints and security installations using suicide car bombers and rockets.
 Security and medical officials said ambulances could not get to the scene of the attacks because of heavy fighting in which the military brought in Apache helicopters.
 "Ambulances are waiting in front of the hospital. They can't leave. People are bringing in the casualties," a health official said.
 Troops regularly come under attack in the Sinai, where jihadists have killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since Mursi's overthrow.
  IS said the assault had involved three suicide bombers.
 "In a blessed raid enabled by God, the lions of the caliphate have simultaneously attacked more than 15 checkpoints belonging to the apostate army," the group said.
 Sisi pledged to toughen laws and suggested fast track executions after the state prosecutor's assassination, and a cabinet meeting  yesterday passed the amendments.


Egypt's warplanes target militants as Islamic State kills 70 in wave of Sinai attacks

Smoke rises amid fierce fighting in North Sinai.Photo: Reuters

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Islamist group launches unprecedented offensive in Egypt, while warplanes target militants during major battles in the streets


Egypt's warplanes target militants as Islamic State kills 70 in wave of Sinai attacks

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Islamist group launches unprecedented offensive in Egypt, while warplanes target militants during major battles in the streets

Islamist group launches unprecedented offensive in Egypt, while warplanes target militants during major battles in the streets