Egyptian forces smash ‘terrorist cell’ in Western Desert

Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said late on Monday that the group, comprising 10 individuals, was dismantled in the beleaguered al-Wahat district of the country’s Western Desert. The individuals have reportedly been detained; their identities have not been publicized, however.
 
Samir added that the group had planned to carry out acts of terror during the forthcoming Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) holidays.
 
On September 13, eight Mexican tourists, along with four Egyptians, were killed by mistake in an Egyptian air strike in the same area. The victims came under fire while on their way to the Bahariya oasis.
 
The Egyptian Interior Ministry said in a statement following the incident that the tourists had entered a restricted area, and were mistakenly targeted in al-Wahat while the army was “chasing terrorist elements.”
 
The Egyptian military has been struggling to quell acts of terrorism and militancy in the Sinai Peninsula. It views the volatile region as a sanctuary for extremists, who use the terrain as a safe haven.
 
The group Velayat Sinai, previously known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in the Sinai Peninsula. Last November, the group pledged allegiance to the Daesh terrorist group, which is mainly operating in Iraq and neighboring Syria.