An ISIS affiliate has claimed responsibility for an attack on a water plant in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula that killed 11 Egyptian soldiers, including one officer.
The attack on Saturday in a Sinai area just east of the Suez Canal was the deadliest against Egyptian security forces in years. At least five other soldiers were wounded in the attack, according to the military.
The local ISIS affiliate claimed responsibility in a statement carried by its Amaq news agency. The statement's authenticity could not be independently verified, but its wording conforms with previous announcements by the extremist group.
The military said on Saturday that troops were pursuing the attackers in an isolated area of the Sinai Peninsula, but there has been no word since on whether the assailants have been killed or captured.
The attack has dominated the conversation on Egypt's television talk shows as families of the victims mourned their loved ones in funerals attended by thousands across much of the nation.
It has also rallied Egyptians behind the government and the army in a show of unity, with social media platforms filled with messages of support, condolences and strong condemnations of terrorism.
“The attack was both shocking and surprising to many people. That's because we have kind of forgotten about that [terrorism],” said Amr Adeeb, the popular Egyptian host of the talk show El Hekayah, or 'the story,' on the Saudi-owned network MBC.
“But terrorism does not die and that's a fact, but you can contain it and reduce its frequency.”
The attack also drew messages of solidarity and condolences from regional and international leaders.
On Monday, the new head of the US Central Command, Gen Michael E. Kurilla, added his country's "full solidarity" with Egypt in its counterterrorism efforts during a meeting with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Cairo.
"It (terrorims) is the shared and most dangerous threat that faces the area and threatens the security of the entire region," a statement from the Egyptian leader's media office quoted Gen Kurilla as saying.
The Central Command's area of responsibility stretches from the Middle East to the Horn of Africa and as far away in Asia as Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Egypt has been a close ally of the United States since the late 1970s, receiving billions of dollars' worth of economic and military aid over the years. The two nations are known to be closely co-ordinating on counterterrorism activity and sharing intelligence, a constant that has weathered the ups and downs of their relations.
Egypt has for years been battling an Al Qaeda and later ISIS-led insurgency in the Sinai peninsula. The insurgency there had intensified after the military in 2013 overthrew an elected but divisive president, Mohammed Morsi of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood.
It targeted security forces and Christians in the Sinai, the mainland in Cairo and the Nile Delta, as well as remote areas of the western desert close to the Libyan border.
However, the frequency and deadliness of the attacks has dropped sharply since the government in 2018 launched a major offensive in northern Sinai, the epicentre of the insurgency. The offensive succeeded in dislodging the militants from most of their strongholds in the region close to the border with the Gaza Strip and Israel and secured the support of local tribesmen.
The offensive has involved troops and militarised police contingents backed by fighter jets, helicopter gunships, tanks and navy ships.
Saturday's attack took place just two weeks after President El Sisi said that more than 3,000 troops and policemen have been killed fighting militants since 2013, and at least 12,000 more have been injured.
Striking a confident note, he said the fight in northern Sinai has been settled and that his government would declare the end of terrorism when it cleared the region from explosives and roadside bombs.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
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Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
