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Egypt’s military has launched airstrikes against jihadist targets in the Sinai Peninsula.
The move follows the killing of 12 soldiers at a checkpoint at El-Arish by ISIL late Friday. The military said in a televised statement that its aircrafts had taken off at dawn on Saturday for a reconnaissance and bombing mission that lasted several hours and was still ongoing. It said the strikes targeted hideouts of armed extremists involved in Friday’s assault, adding that a number of the jihadists were killed and weapons destroyed.
A security source said at least 100 militants were killed in the airstrikes and 40 others were wounded.
He added that the airstrikes have bombed three suspected jihadist bases in Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid and Al-Arish cities.
