EU, UAE condemn terrorist attack against army in Egypt's North Sinai

CAIRO - 1 May 2020: The United Arab Emirates on Friday denounced a terrorist attack on North Sinai's Bi'r al-Abd city, which caused the death or the injury of eight army soldiers and two officers, according to the military spokesman.

Military spokesman Tamer Al-Rifae did not mention the exact number of deaths.

"The UAE expresses its vehement condemnation of these criminal acts and its principled rejection of all acts of violence and terrorism," a statement issued by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said.

"This terrorist act is completely incompatible with all religious and humanitarian values and principles," it added.

The statement also reiterated UAE's support for Egypt and its firm solidarity with the Egyptian government and people in their fight against violence and terrorism.

The ministry expressed the UAE condolences to the families of martyrs as well as to the government and people of Egypt while wishing speedy recovery of those injured.

Egypt has been countering terrorism and extremism ideologies over the past years since the ouster of late Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi. Several operations have been taking place in Sinai against terrorists, as many Egyptian officers and soldiers have martyred in the battle.

Also, the European Union Ambassador to Egypt Ivan Surkos condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to families of the Egyptian soldiers.

"Ramadan is a month of peace, solidarity, charity, and committing any violence or terrorist acts is even more deplorable."

Egypt's Sisi mourns Bir al-Abd terrorist attack martyrs

CAIRO - 30 April 2020: Egypt's President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has mourned the Armed Forces martyrs who were killed and injured in North Sinai terrorist attack on Thursday. "The terrorists have killed our heroes and sons in Bir al-Abd city, at North Sinai today.

North Sinai recorded its first infection with coronavirus Thursday, and isolated the case in Bi'r al-Abd Hospital, according to a statement by the Health Directorate in North Sinai.

The statement said, “The hospital took all the precautionary and treatment measures as per the adopted protocol in dealing with the suspected cases with COVID-19.”

“The monitoring team carried out epidemiological investigations, clearance process of the case’s house, and followed up the procedures of tracking those who came in contact with the positive COVID-19 case,” added the statement.

In its statement, the health directorate called on all North Sinai residents to commit to the precautionary measures announced by the state to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, especially during this difficult period.
Additional reporting by MENA