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The Sinai Islamist Insurgency:
A Timeline Of Atrocities
Pre – 2011: Terror attacks in the Sinai Peninsula before the resignation of Hosni Mubarak
Following the signing of the Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt, the Sinai Peninsula had been traditionally quiet, with infrequent attacks. However, the turn into the new millennium brought an increase of attack in the region. Most of the attacks were related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rather than locally-focused issues. One of the most notable attacks was the October 7th attacks on the Hilton Taba and campsites used by Israelis in Ras al-Shitan. The VBIED attack on Hilton Taba not only killed 34 people but also caused the ten-floor hotel to collapse. The bombers responsible for the attacks were Palestinians who had failed to gain entrance to Israel to conduct the attack, thus, conducting the attack in Egypt in areas populated by Israelis. Less than a year later, on 25 July, Abdullah Azzam Brigades, a Salafist group allied to al-Qaida, attacked Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh killing 88 people and injuring another 200. The Egyptian government blamed the Abdullah Azzam Brigades on the October 7 attacks. Less than a year later, nail bombs set off by timers are denoted in several locations in the resort city of Dahab in the Sinai Peninsula, killing 23 people instantly and injuring another 80. According to the International Crisis Group, this attack conducted by suspected Bedouin militants was directly related to Mubarak government policies that left the region marginalised. The Egyptian government concluded that Jama’at al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad, an extremist group allied to al-Qaida, was responsible for the attack. The Sinai Insurgency was triggered and shifted to a more extremist angle during the Arab Spring that brought the end of Hosni Mubarak’s dictatorship.
11 February 2011: President Hosni Mubarak resigns during the Arab Spring
Omar Suleiman, Egyptian Vice President, announced that President Hosni Mubarak has resigned and handed power to the military. His resignation came after 18 days of mass protest that called for his removal from power. Mubarak’s resignation was met with cheers and excitement, especially by those camping at the Tahrir Square, the centre of demonstrations. His departure was a symbol for a renewed Egypt that would be democratically governed. A military council led by Defence Minister, Field Marshall Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, will lead the country until a date for next election is announced.
30 June 2012: Mohamed Morsi is sworn into office as Egypt’s first democratically elected president
Mohammed Morsi came to power following the decision by former president Hosni Mubarak to resign.
For more information about Mubarak’s resignation, refer to 11 February 2011.
1 August 2012: Jund Al-Sharia, a new insurgent group in the Sinai, is formed
Refer to the Key players: Jund Al-Sharia section
5 August 2012: Insurgents overrun an Egyptian Army outpost on the Israeli border
Insurgents overrun an Egyptian army outpost on the Israeli border using two armoured personnel carriers, killing ten soldiers, Israeli soldiers and their air force engaged with the insurgents who had entered Israel, killing an unspecified number of gunmen.
August 2012: a power struggle between President Morsi and the military government begins
Since the military had controlled Egypt for an extended period, the tension between a civilian government, with influences from the Muslim Brotherhood, and the military was rising, resulting in the firing of several senior military staff. By 12 August, Mohamad Hussein Tantawi, the Head of the Armed Forces, and Sami Hafex Anan, the Army Chief of Staff, were asked to resign. Following the resignation of President Mubarak, Mohamed Tantawi served as the de facto Head of State and Defence Minister until Morsi was elected president of Egypt. Though the two senior military officials were forced to resign, the Morsi government gave them advisory positions which were largely ceremonial. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi replaced Mohamed Tantawi as the new Defence Minister. Four days later, the Director of the Intelligence Directorate and the Commander of the presidential guards, Mourad Mowafi, and other senior security figures, were removed from their position. The government justified the decision by citing the clashes in the Sinai region that led to the death of 16 policemen on August 6th.
15 September 2012: Insurgents attack an International peacekeeping base in the Sinai region
Four peacekeeping soldiers, belonging to the Multinational Force and Observers base in Gora region, were wounded when 60-70 gunmen attacked the base. Colombian troops predominately man the station. However, US national guard members are also at the base. No group or militia has claimed the attack, but the government suspects Bedouin Salafi gunmen staged the attack.
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (ABM), who later rebrand themselves as ISIS-Sinai Province, claimed responsibility for the attack that took place a week ago that killed one Israeli soldier. The soldier was providing security to construction crews building a fence in the Har Harif area on the border with the Egyptian Sinai. Another soldier was injured when the militants opened fire
24 September 2012: 14 sentenced to death for 2011 Sinai attacks
Fourteen insurgents are found guilty and sentenced to death for their role in the 2011 Sinai attack which led to deaths of four police and military officers, along with one civilian. The attack took place at an El-Arish police station and a Bank of Alexandria branch in Northern Sinai. The militants are believed to be part of the al-Qaida linked Jama’at al-Tawhid wal Jihad
November 2012 – July 2013: Egyptians took to the streets to protest Morsi’s presidency
Similar to the Arab Spring but a much smaller scale, the Egyptian people, especially the secularists, took to the streets to protest Morsi’s presidency. Many saw his administration as an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood in power. The decision to give the presidency ultimate powers, through a constitutional declaration, was the catalyst for the protests to begin.
3 July 2013: A military coup deposed Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s only democratically elected president
A military coup successfully deposed Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s only democratically elected president from power. The chief of the Armed Forces, General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, the current president of Egypt, announced that he had suspended the constitution. He added that he would nominate Adli Mansour, the head of the constitutional court, as the interim president and a transitional cabinet would be formed. He finished the statement by saying that presidential and parliamentary elections would follow shortly. Following the coup, it was unclear whether former President Morsi was free or in detention in an unknown location. As soon as the coup was announced, supporters of the ousted president and army personnel clashed in various cities and towns in the country. Fourteen supporters were killed in Cairo, eight in Marsa Matrouh, and three dead and 50 wounded in Alexandria.
14 August 2013: Egyptian security forces kill over 900 protestors
In response to mass protests by Muslim Brotherhood supporters who were against the military coup, police and the army troops reportedly opened fire on the demonstrators. They opened fire at a pro-Morsi sit-in in Rab’a al-Adawiya Square in the Nasr city district in Eastern Cairo. Additionally, the security forced employed snipers and gunmen to target the protestors.
- In five separate incidents, the police and army forces killed at least 1150 protestors.
1 September 2013: Perpetrators of the second Rafah massacre arrested
North Sinai Security Forces detained three suspected perpetrators of the second Rafah massacre, where 25 soldiers were killed in the Abu Tawila region, located along the international Al-Arish/Rafah road. The three suspected perpetrators are Adel Mohamed Ibrahim, who was founding hiding out in Al-Arish, Ahmed M. and his brother.
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (ABM) claims to have conducted the assassination attempt on Mohammed Ibrahim, the Interior Minister, on 5th A car bomb ripped through his motorcade, injuring at least 21 people. Following the attack, gunfire could be heard in Nasr city neighbourhood where the attack took place.
Jund al-Islam claimed responsibility for the explosion on the Rafah military intelligence building. The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who targeted a two-story building in Rafah that housed a local branch of the Egyptian air force intelligence. The bombing caused the building to collapse. On the same day, a second suicide bomber targeted a military checkpoint in Rafah. The twin attacks claimed the lives of 9 people and injured 17, including seven civilians.
While addressing the nation, Egyptian army spokesperson Ahmed Ali announced that their recent operations to stabilise the Sinai has resulted in the arrest of 309 militants. Additionally, the operations identified al-Mahdiyyah near Rafah in the Sinai as an extremist stronghold for Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (ABM).
Five hundred twenty-nine members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood have been sentenced to death. The mass sentencing, which is the largest in Egypt’s history, sparked widespread outrage and international condemnation. The international community questioned how a fair trial could be conducted when so many of the defendants had a two-day trial.
23 October 2014: Israeli troops injured in Sinai border attack
Israeli Army confirms that two soldiers were wounded after assailants fired shots and anti-tank missile at a vehicle near the Egyptian border. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
25 October 2014: Egypt declares State of Emergency in Sinai
The Egyptian government has declared a state of State of Emergency in the north and centre of the Sinai Peninsula after a suicide bombing killed at least 31 soldiers. President el Sisi said that the state of emergency would remain for three months
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis pledges allegiance to Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)., they had expressed their support of ISIS. Following their pledge, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis changed its name to ISIS-Sinai Province, commonly referred to as Sinai Province.
24 December 2014: Mansoura bombings kill 16 people and injured 150
A vehicle IED was detonated at Mansoura security directorate building in the Nile Delta region, northern Egypt. The explosion ripped apart the five-story building and created damage to neighbouring buildings. At least 16 people, 14 of whom were police officers, were killed and another 150 were injured.
Though no group claimed responsibility for the attack immediately, Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi, was quick to place the blame of the Muslim Brotherhood. ISIS-Sinai Province (then known as Ansar Bait al Maqdis) later claimed responsibility for the blast.
29 January 2015: ISIS-Sinai Province claims the attack that killed 45 people in the Sinai
The ISIS-Sinai Province militants fired a barrage of rockets and set off a car bomb in a series of attacks in North Sinai province which killed 45 people, mostly soldiers. Two children were among the dead. President al-Sisi, who was in Ethiopia for an African Union meeting, flew back to Egypt to address the nation. The president pledged to defeat the militants in the Sinai.
31 January 2015: Egypt lists the armed wing of Hamas as a terrorist group
Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, is classified as a terrorist group by an Egyptian court. The decision is based on allegations that the armed wing staged terrorist attacks to support the Muslim Brotherhood and carried out a bombing and a shooting operation which killed 33 security personnel in the Sinai Peninsula in October 2014. The classification of the armed wing of Hamas comes at a time where the Egyptian
7 June 2015: President al-Sisi apologises to those who have suffered abuse from security forces
A year since taking office, President Sisi issued an apology to “every Egyptian citizen who has been subjected to any abuse. I am accountable for anything that happens to an Egyptian citizen.” These remarks come as more activists release reports and statements detailing the increase of abuse since he took office, especially while pursuing militants in the Sinai.
8 June 2015: Human Rights Watch publishes a report detailing abuses under al-Sisi’s presidency
Human Rights Watch claim that President al-Sisi presides over flagrant abuse of human rights since taking office a year ago. The human rights abuses started when he pledged to restore stability following the increase of violence by armed groups. The report adds that the absence of an elected parliament during his first year in office provided near total impunity for security forces abuses while issuing laws that severely curtail civil and political rights. This trend will effectively erase the human rights gains of the Arab spring that ousted President Hosni Mubarak. The report maintains that the security forces must be held accountable for the mass killings of protestors after the coup that removed Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
29 June 2015: Egypt’s state prosecutor killed in Cairo bomb attack
Hisham Barakat, the state prosecutor, was killed after a bomb blast hit his motorcade in Cairo. The bomb, which was planted in a parked car, was remotely detonated. Two civilians and two police officers were reportedly injured. The following night, Egypt announced that Zakaria Abd El-Aziz Osman had been appointed as the acting prosecutor general. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the government suspects ISIS-Sinai Province is behind the attack.
1 July 2015: Sinai Province extremist group briefly occupied the town of Sheikh Zuweid
After attacking 15 military and security posts, a band of 300 militants briefly occupied the town of Sheikh Zuweid. Independent reports indicate that 35 people have been killed, while at least 22 militants and 3 of their vehicles destroyed. The government issued a statement that only 17 soldiers were killed, and more than 100 attackers died in the attack.
4 July 2015: ISIS-Sinai Province claims rocket attack on Israel
ISIS-Sinai province says it fired three rockets into Southern Israel in a rare attack from Egyptian soil. They claimed the attack through a statement on Twitter. The Israeli military spokesperson confirmed the attack, adding that only two rockets were fired from the Sinai region.
11 July 2015: ISIS-Sinai Province claims an attack on the Italian Consulate in Cairo
ISIS-Sinai Province claims an attack on the Italian Consulate in Cairo, killing one civilian and injuring nine others. The consulate was targeted since it is near one of the busiest intersections in Cairo. The group warned Muslims from targets such as the consulate since they are legitimate targets for strikes. The Egyptian military detained four foreign journalists who were covering the bombing.
3 August 2015: An Egyptian extremist group claims they have killed hostage Tomislav Salopek
Sinai Province claims that they have killed hostage Tomislav Salopek. Mr Salopek is a Croat national who was kidnapped on 22nd June in Cairo where he worked as a surveyor Previously for a French geoscience company CGG. The group posted the photo on twitter claiming to be the body of Mr Salopek. Before the photo was circulated, Sinai Province had demanded the release of all jailed Muslim women in exchange for Mr Salopek’s life. This was the first time that any insurgent group in the Sinai has kidnapped a foreigner from the capital and executing them in their stronghold.
29 October 2015: Jund al-Islam officially pledges their allegiance to al-Qaida
Jund al-Islam officially pledges their allegiance to al-Qaida in an audio message. Though they have pledged their allegiance, the extent of the ideological and moral ties between the two groups are yet to be determined.
The Russian airline Metrojet crashed, killing all 224 people on board. The plane broke down in mid-air. Most of the passengers were from Russia, visiting the resort town of Sham-el Sheikh. ISIS-Sinai Province claimed responsibility for the attack, adding that they smuggled an explosive onboard. The attack led to Russia suspending all flights to and from Egypt, dealing a heavy blow to the country’s tourism industry.
Conflicting narratives from the Egyptian and Russian governments about the attack. On 4thNovember, the Russian Intelligence Services release a statement saying that they found traces of explosives in the debris of the Metrojet airliner. The Russian government is adamant that the downing of the plane was a terrorist attack. On 15th December, Egypt investigators say that there is no indication that a bomb was used to bring down the plane. Before both countries released their findings, Metrojet issued a statement insisting that technical fault is not the cause of the plane crash.
4 November 2015: A suicide bomber using an explosive-laden car kills nine people
A suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a police club killing nine people, including four police officers and wounding several others in El-Arish. ISIS-Sinai Province claimed responsibility for the attack.
25 November 2015: ISIS-Sinai Province claims the Swiss Inn Hotel attack that killed 7
ISIS-Province claims the Swiss Inn Hotel attack in El Arish that killed 7, including two judges, four police officers and a civilian. The attack came a day after Egypt held the second round of parliamentary elections. Judges who supervised the vote I the Sinai were staying at the heavily guarded hotel.
20 March 2016: 13 Egyptian security forces killed in an explosion claimed by ISIS-Sinai province
An ISIS-Sinai Province attack at a security checkpoint in the city of Arish claimed the lives of 13 Egyptian policemen. Witnesses reported hearing a massive explosion then heavy gunfire. Security forces killed five militants who carried out the attack.
8 May 2016: Egyptian police officers killed in an ambush south of Cairo
Plainclothes police officers have been shot dead in the outskirts of Cairo by four gunmen. Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in the Sinai Province have claimed that the attack.
5 August 2016: Egyptian army kill the head of ISIS-Sinai Province branch
According to the Egyptian military, Abu Duaa al-Ansari, the head of ISIS-Sinai Province, along with 45 other militants were killed in an operation in El-Arish town in the Sinai. The army destroyed arms and ammunition stores. ISIS-Sinai Province has not yet commented on the Egyptian military operations.
A bombing near the main Coptic Christian St Peter’s Cathedral in Cairo kills at least 25 people and wounding another 49 people. Hours after the attack, Hundreds of Christian and Muslims protested the increase in the attacks against Christian around the country. The protesters called for the dismissal of the Interior Minister, Magdy Adel Ghaffar, due to security failures.
Hundreds of Coptic Christian are fleeing the city of Ismailia following a series of killing by a local armed group. The militants have killed at least seven Christians in separate attacks in El-Arish city in February alone. The provincial government have been helpful, aiding the fleeing Christians to find housing. The recent increase in the attack against the Coptic Christians is a result of a video message from ISIS-Sinai Province claiming they are ‘infidels’ empowering the West against Muslims.
The first suicide bomber denoted his explosive device inside St. George’s Church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta. Survivors of the attack say that the suicide bomber denoted his explosives while rushing towards the altar. This attack killed 30 people and injured 78. Later in the day, the second suicide bomber denoted a bomb inside the Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria, the seat of the Coptic papacy. Another bomb exploded outside the Cathedral gates while the survivors were escaping from the bombing inside. The attack took place just minutes after Coptic Pope Towadros II had left the church after hearing the news about the explosion in Tanta. Seventeen people were killed, and another 48 were injured. Mahmoud Mohamed Ali Hussein is believed to be the mastermind behind both of the bombings. The Egyptian government responded to the twin suicide bombings with issuing a three-month state of emergency.
21 April 2017: Egyptian airstrike kills 19 ISIS fighters, including three leaders, in the Sinai
The Egyptian military alleges that an airstrike targeting ISIS-Sinai Province has killed 19 ISIS fighters, including three leaders. ISIS- Sinai Province has not commented on the matter.
A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a checkpoint at a military checkpoint in the southern Rafah village of El-Barth. Following the explosion, heavy gunfire from dozens of masked fighters ensued on foot. Forty fighters were also killed in a subsequent gun battle. 26 Egyptian soldiers were killed. Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in Sinai Province claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement.
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) alleges that Interior Minister had developed “assembly line” of abuse of collection information and prepare often fabricated cases. The aim of this practise is to pursue political stability “at any cost.” The HWR report was based on interviews from 19 former detainees and the family of the 20th detainee who all claim to have been tortured between 2014 and 2016. The Egyptian government categorically denies all the accusations.
11 September 2017: ISIS fighters ambush a police convoy, killing 18 officers
Eighteen police officers were killed when suspected ISIS militants detonated a roadside bomb near the town of el-Arish. The militants then opened fire with machine guns at the survivors of the blast, which destroyed three armed vehicles and a fourth with signal jamming equipment.
16 October 2017: 6 Egyptian soldiers and 24 militants killed during a confrontation
Following a series of assaults on security posts in northern Sinai, a confrontation ensued, killing 6 Egyptian soldiers and 24 militants. The militants were armed with heavy machine guns and mortars when they attacked the security post in Sheikh Zweid and the surrounding area. The Egyptian military repelled the attacks with Apache helicopters gunships.
24 November 2017: Gunmen attack a Sufi Mosque in Sinai, killing at least 235 people
Gunmen attacked a Sufi Mosque in Bir al-Abed, in the Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 235 people and another 120 were wounded. The attack, which took place shortly after Friday prayers, was a combined bombing and armed attack. Hours after the attack, the Egyptian warplanes targeted the mountainous areas around Bir al-Abed, which is 40KM from the capital of North Sinai, El Arish. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which is the worst attack by insurgents in the Sinai desert. Suspicion is that ISIS affiliates are responsible for the attacks.
The Egyptian military says that an airstrike has killed some of the attackers involved in the Sufi Mosque massacre, as well as their vehicles.
6 December 2017: Egyptian President Sisi criticised over ‘brute force’ strategy in the Sinai
Following the horrific attack at a Sufi mosque on 24 November, Egyptian president el-Sisi gave his security forces a three-month deadline to “restore security and stability” to the country’s northern Sinai province. The Egyptian military immediately launched airstrikes on targets in the surrounding Bir al-Abed in the Sinai. Local researchers and activists detail how the military forces are raiding villages and residential clusters near the site of the 24 November attack. Dozens have been detained, without proper charge
Colonel Tamer Rifai announced the implementation of a plan to push out armed groups in the Sinai, parts of the Nile Delta and the Western Desert. The army has ordered hospitals in the area to increase its capacity to accommodate possible emergencies and medical evacuations. By October 2018, the Egyptian army indicated that they had killed at least 450 armed fighters, dismantled 1200 explosive devices and destroyed 1900 vehicles and motorcycles. As a result of the operations in the Sinai, the government has spent $1.3bn to compensate residents forced to relocate from Northern Sinai. During the operation, 30 soldiers have lost their lives.
7 March 2018: Egypt operation in the Sinai cause mobile phone signals in Gaza
Egypt operations to jam the mobile signals of Sinai insurgent has affected the people of Gaza and Southern Israel. The Egyptian operation of jamming a range of mobile phone frequencies in the Sinai began on February 21st.
2 November 2018: ISIS-Sinai Province claimed responsibility for an attack on a bus in northern Egypt
2 November 2018: ISIS-Sinai Province claimed responsibility for an attack on a bus in northern Egypt
A bus carrying Coptic visitors to a monastery in Minya, northern Egypt, was targeted by ISIS-Sinai Province. According to the Coptic archbishop of Minya, Anba Makarios, seven people were killed and another 14 wounded.
11 March 2019: Egypt army says 46 insurgents and three soldiers killed in the Sinai
In a statement, the Egyptian Army stated that they had killed 46 ‘very dangerous’ militants, though it did not specify the dates or locations of the security operations. At least 100 suspected militants were arrested, and more than 30 cars and scooters were confiscated or destroyed in the operation. Fifteen militant hideouts were destroyed, and 204 explosive devices were dismantled.
16 May 2019: Egypt military kills 47 fighters
During an offensive in the Sinai Peninsula, Egyptian military claims to have killed at least 47 fighters. Five soldiers were killed during the operation. The operations resulted in the neutralising of 385 explosive devices. Since operation started in February, 650 fighters and 45 soldiers have been killed though no independent source has verified the government numbers
28 May 2019: Human Rights Watch say abuses in Egypt’s Sinai amount to war crimes
Human Rights Watch published a report tilted “If you are afraid of your lives, leave Sinai.” The report details wide spread of abuses against civilians during the Egyptian military offensives in northern Sinai. HRW say that the abuses amount to war crimes. Some of the abuses detailed include extrajudicial killings, intentional airstrikes on civilian areas, death due to ill treatment in custody, lack of media care, and the arrest and detention of children as young as 12. The Egyptian government has not commented on the report.
5 June 2019: Eight policemen killed in an ambush at a checkpoint
Militants killed at least 8 Egyptian policemen at a checkpoint west of El Arish. Some of the militants escaped following the attack while others were killed. The Egyptian government has dispatched reinforcements to the checkpoint.
19 July 2019: Suicide bomb kills two in Sheikh Zuweid, North Sinai
A suicide bomb attack targeting security forces near a parking lot in the city of Sheikh Zuweid in North Sinai results in two deaths, including a civilian, and three security forces injured. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
14 September 2019: Three security forced killed in an attack on a checkpoint
Egyptian military say that at least three forces and three militants have been killed in a militant attack on a checkpoint in El-Arish, northern Sinai. The militants opened fire on the security forces and Egyptian military returned fire. The Security forces chased after the militants after they tried to escape, killing the three assailants. It is unclear which group the militants belong to since no group has claimed responsibility. Two other security forces are reportedly injured.
28 September 2019: Seven soldiers, one civilian killed in an ambush in Bir Al-Abed
Seven soldiers and one civilian killed in an ambush in Bir Al-Abed by suspected Islamic state militants. Two other soldiers were injured in the attack. Islamic state claimed the attack, adding that they killed 15 Soldiers.
4 November 2019: Egypt forces kill 83 fighters, military says
Egypt claims that they have killed at least 83 suspected fighters over the past month in operations in Central and North Sinai. The operations also led to the arrest of 61 criminal suspects. 376 explosive devices were found and destroyed during the operation that began on September 28th.
14 January 2020: Egyptian F-16 fighter Jet Crashes in North Sinai Killing one
An Egyptian F-16 fighter jet crashed in North Sinai, killing the pilot. The Egyptian military spokesperson stated that the plane crashed during an air force training exercise, however, the cause of the crash is yet to be determined.
15 January 2020: IS claim the killing of Suleiman Mutawe an alleged Egyptian Intelligence Spy
ISIS’s Amaq News Agency posted a message on one of its affiliated Telegram channels stating that an “Egyptian intelligence spy, called ‘Suleiman Mutawe’ was killed after Islamic State fighters captured him near the city of ‘Sheikh Zuweid’ in the Sinai”. Accompanying the message was a video that included Mutawe making a statement about being an informant for the Egyptian Army along with his execution.
4 February 2020: Militant’s attack gas pipeline between Israel and Egypt
It was reported that militants blew up a section of the recently inaugurated gas pipeline linking Israel and Egypt. A terrorist group affiliated with IS claimed the attacked, stating it was aimed at disrupting relations between the two nations. However, it is unclear whether the damaged area was a domestic section of pipeline or one connecting to Israel’s Leviathan field.
10 February 2020: Egypt thwarts terrorist attack on security base in North Sinai
According to Colonel Tamer al-Rifai the Spokesperson for the Egyptian Armed Forces the attack resulted in the death of 10 militants and an Egyptian army officer.
14 April 2020: Seven militants are killed by Egyptian Security Forces in Eastern Cairo
Egypt’s Interior Ministry has announced the deaths of seven suspected militants who have been killed in a raid by. The raid of an insurgent hideout in the Amiriyah district in eastern Cairo, led to a shootout leading to the death of a police officer and the militants. The raid also found ammunition, weapons, and explosives. Authorities announced that these weapons were for the use in a suspected terror attack set to coincide with the country’s Coptic Christians holiday of Easter on April 19.
1 May 2020: IS claim responsibility for April 30 attack
Islamic State in their news outlet claims responsibility for an attack occurring on the 30th of April that killed 10 soldiers in the Sinai region. However, no detail on how the attack was carried out or who was involved was reported. According, to Colonel Tamer al-Rifai Egyptian army spokesperson, an improvised explosive device targeted a military vehicle near the southern city of Bir al-Abd.
3 May 2020: 18 militants killed in firefight in Northern Sinai
Egyptian Interior Ministry has announced that 18 suspected armed group insurgents were killed in North Sinai during a firefight with security forces. The Ministry stated that “National security received intelligence about terrorist elements hiding out in a home in Bir al-Abed, where they were planning to launch hostile operations”.
Security forces also found 13 automatic weapons, 2 explosive belts and three other explosive devices in their possession.
11 May 2020: Nephew of the founder of the Sinai Tribal Union is discovered dead
Militants enter the village of Abou Tawila, east of Sheikh Zayed, where, by the village mosque, they left the decapitated head of the nephew of Ibrahim al-Ergany, a businessman and the founder of the Sinai Tribal Union.
17 May 2020: Four dead after Militant’s attack village of Qabir Umair
Militants dressed in uniforms of the armed forces snuck into Qabir Umair, a village located on the western side of Sheikh Zuwayed. The attack, which had aimed to kidnap certain families led to the death of four people. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it had killed four spies.
23 May 2020: Two shootouts lead to the deaths of 21 militants in Northern Sinai
Egyptian police forces killed 21 militants in two shootouts in North Sinai. Egypt’s Interior Ministry in a statement announced that the militants were planning to carry out terrorist attacks during the major Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr holiday.
May 2020: Tribal leaders and security agencies agree to amnesty deal
Local sources have stated that in late May an agreement was reached among tribal elders and Egypt’s security agencies. The deal aims to encourage those in tribes who have fought with Wilayat Sinai to turn themselves in.
Under this deal, those who willingly turn themselves in will be granted amnesty after being submitted to interrogation by the security forces. So far, it has been recorded that 23 members have surrendered to security services. Participants in this operation are from the Tarabin, Sawarka and Rumailat tribes.
1 June 2020: Militant’s attempt to kidnap two in the community of Joura
Wilayat Sinai militants raid a rural community on the outskirts of Joura in Sheikh Zuwayed in an attempt to kidnap two brothers from the Sawarka tribe. The attack is thwarted by the villagers leading to the death of one brother, the other managing to escape.
7 June 2020: Member of Sinai Tribe Union found dead
75-year-old member of the Sinai Tribal Union had been murdered by Wilayat Sinai in southern Rafah, two months after being kidnapped.
19 June 2020: Egypt censors’ media from reporting on Libya, Sinai, Renaissance Dam and Covid-19
Egypt’s council for Media Regulation has come under fire after announcing a bad on the media from addressing various ‘sensitive’ issues. From now, outlets and social media users are restricted from discussion or reporting on Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam, the pandemic and the conflicts in Libya and the Sinai Peninsula. Instead, information can only be issued by official authorities and that legal measures would be taken against violators. The statement read that “the country is going dangerous and sensitive period which requires the concentrated efforts of all national powers to maintain the country’s national security”.
The Egyptian National Action Group (ENAG) a key opposition group to Egypt’s government, condemned the ban and said that no emergency declaration could justify this level of censorship. They stated that “This measure is not only morally wrong but also constitutes a real security threat to the public, as a consequence of the lack of information, lack of transparency and the regime’s impunity”.
Two militants were killed in gunfire by security forces in the Jalbana area of North Sinai. Allegedly, the militants had been plotting a terror attack.
Weapons and ammunition were seized during a police raid that thwarted the terrorist attack that was expected to coincide with the seventh anniversary of the June 30 Revolution.
Egypt’s National Security Agency had been tipped off regarding a terrorist hideout in the Jalbana area. The terrorists engaged the Egyptian forces in a shootout which resulted in the deaths of the two men.
22 July 2020: Egyptian army foils potential terror attack
The Egyptian army has reported the deaths of 18 suspected militants, foiling a potential terrorist attack on a military post in the area of Bir al-Abed, Northern Sinai.
Two army personnel were killed, and four others wounded. Troops destroyed four vehicles including three car bombs while chasing the militants through a farm and uninhabited homes.
24 July 2020: Muslim Brotherhood members arrested for disseminating disinformation
Egyptian authorities in the city of Alexandria have arrested six members in of the Muslim Brotherhood, a designated terrorist group by Egypt. The arrested were according to the Ministry of Interior, planning to “carry out sabotage operations” ahead of the August elections. The statement further read that “they planned to disseminate disinformation among citizens during the election period by compiling fake news and videos, which they planned to broadcast via satellite channels”.
28 July 2020: Military face major stand off against ISIS affiliates Wilayat Sinai in Sinai
Currently, the Egyptian military is facing a standoff against ISIS affiliate group Wilayat Sinai. Three soldiers have been killed and dozens of civilians are displaced following the actions of Wilayat Sinai. However, Wilayat Sinai have claimed to have killed 40 soldiers during the attack.
The terrorist group have seized control of four villages near the city of Bir Al-Abd in the North Sinai governorate. Bir Al-Abd was also where Wilayat Sinai militants stormed a Sufi mosque killing 311 worshippers in 2017, this was considered to be the deadliest attack in the nation’s history.
The offensive began shortly after Cairo had reported the deaths of 18 militants. Militants of Wilayat Sinai have placed IED’s and mines at strategic points are the villages which are impeding the military’s ability to drive out the militants. The military have since resorted to aerial bombardments to tackle the insurgents but could also harm civilians.
According to eyewitnesses and local tribal sources, the air force has launched more than 25 strikes targeting insurgent positions in the villages.
Currently there are no records civilian casualties, however a medical clinic and a number of homes have been destroyed.
12 August 2020: Egypt-Gaza strip violence leads to dispatch of air support
Operatives for ISIS fired various weapons at the Egyptian border police’s Al-Siyah checkpoint, near the border between Egypt and the Gaza strip.
Egyptian forces were brought to the scene as reinforcements, with warplanes and drones also being dispatched to provide air support. Ambulances were later seen evacuating the wounded and dead from the scene. The outcome of the violence is unknown.
13 August 2020: Wilayat Sinai executes four civilians
Wilayat Sinai executed four civilians who had been taken prisoner following an attack on a military base in Rabi’a. The civilians were accused of collaborating with the Egyptian army.
18 August 2020: Egyptian army launches offensive with support of tribal groups
In al-Maghara in central Sinai, the Egyptian army with the support of tribal groups carried out a joint attack against Wilayat Sinai operatives, who launched a counterattack. Both sides suffered casualties and the attack ended after a few hours, without either side having the upper hand.
22 September 2020: Egypt officers to be given pensions as Sisi aims to appease army
Egyptian President Al-Sisi has issued a decree which aims to add to a series of military privileges that have been expanding since the 2013 military coup.
Pensions have now been offered to non-commissioned officers and former conscripts in the Armed forces. A medal to honor officers who participated in or contributed to Operation Sinai has also been created.
23 September 2020: Egyptian army ambush kills two and injures five
An Egyptian army force near Jabal Halal, in northern Sinai were ambushed. Two soldiers were killed and five other injured. No organization has claimed responsibility for the ambush, but it has been assumed to be Wilayat Sinai.
19 November 2020: Gas Pipeline in Sinai explodes
The Egyptian Army announced that a blast occurred in the Sabika area close to a pipeline, causing damage to it. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, but this has not been verified.
6 December 2020: Governor of South Sinai visits developments in the region
Governor of South Sinai and the chairman of the Red Sea Ports Authority visited the Dahab yacht harbour development as part of the Egyptian government’s plight to develop the region and relations with Saudi Arabia.
17 December 2020: Roadside bombings
Roadside bombings occurred in the Sinai Peninsula, killing 3 Egyptian soldiers.
21 January 2021: Islamic State attack the Egyptian security forces
Two roadside bombings occurred, killing 1 soldier and injuring 3. The attacks occurred near Sheikh Zuweid and within a village near Egypt’s border with Gaza. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the two attacks.
9 February 2021: Islamic State group militants killed at least six Bedouins in an ambush
Islamic State group militants Tuesday killed at least six Bedouins in an attack. IS claim it’s in retaliation for their alleged collaboration with the Egyptian military in the country’s restive part of Sinai Peninsula.
19 April 2021: Egypt military attack militants
An Islamic State-linked group was targeted by Egyptian security forces. The militants were accused of attacking Christians and killings in North Sinai.
19 April 2021: Islamic State affiliated group release brutal execution video
A group affiliated with the Islamic State released a video showing the execution of a Christian man and two others, warning other Christians not to cooperate with the government.
July 2021: Egyptian Army claims it killed 89 insurgents in Restive Sinai
Details are inconsistent. The Egyptian army announced it successfully attacked rebels in Sinai.
28 November 2021: Egyptian warplanes launch airstrikes in North Sinai
Egyptian air force planes launched strikes on north Sinai, eyewitnesses and tribal leaders claim.
Raids were situated south of the cities of Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid, targeting areas where the Sinai Province organisation (affiliate of Islamic State) is suggested to operate. There is no information on casualties.
7 May 2022: Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province attacked military placements
Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province attacked and killed between 11 and 17 soldiers in Qantara.
11 May 2022: Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province attacked military checkpoints
Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province attacked a military checkpoint in Rafah. Five soldiers were killed, though this is disputed.
5 June 2022: Security forces launch an operation to counter Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province
Secuirty forces launch an operation west of Rafah in the Sheikh Zuweid region.
Large number of SP operatives killed.
13 June 2022: Conflict between Security Forces and Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province in Rafah
Three soldiers killed.
18 June 2022: Conflict between Security Forces and Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province in Rafah
One army colonel and two militia killed.
July 2022: Continued fighting between military and Islamic State
Continued fighting between Islamic State and the Government throughout July. Many small clashes across the peninsula.
Section 1400: Terrorism Links: Groups & Individuals
The Sinai Islamist Insurgency: A Timeline Of Atrocities
See COPYRIGHT information below.
