Muslim League urges continued int’l efforts against terrorism after N. Sinai attack

CAIRO – 13 May 2022: Muslim World League condemned in a statement on Thursday the terrorist attack against a security installation in North Sinai, which killed and injured a number of army personnel.

Muslim World League’s Secretary General Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa condemned the treacherous attack, affirming the urgent need to continue the global efforts to eradicate terrorism and extremist thought.

Issa added that such treacherous aggressions will only enhance Egypt’s strength and determination in the face of terrorism, according to the statement.

Issa affirmed the league’s full solidarity with Egypt in its war on terrorism and against all threats posed against the Egyptian security and stability.

The league’s secretary general also extended condolences to the families of the victims and to the leadership, government, and people of Egypt on the incident.

A military officer and four soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack in North Sinai, where seven of the attackers were also killed and a collection of machine guns, walkie talkies, hand grenades, and ammunition were seized Wednesday.

The spokesperson of the armed forces said in a statement that the military would “avenge the martyrs in its ranks,” and that such “desperate attempts by the forces of evil and those who assist them would only increase our troops’ insistence on security and safety for the great people of Egypt.”

The statement noted that on Saturday, a military airstrike killed nine “takfiri elements” and destroyed a group of terrorist outposts and two four-wheel drive vehicles used by terrorists. Troops also discovered and destroyed explosive devices intended to target military forces.

Earlier on Saturday, a terrorist attack on a water station in Western Sinai killed 11 military personnel, drawing worldwide condemnation. This comes as the state attempts to revive North Sinai economically by infrstruscture projects.

A "takfiri" is someone who labels others who oppose his ideology as infidels, hence giving himself and people who share his ideology the permission to kill those "infidels," regardless whether those against the ideology identify as Muslim or not.

The term is often used by the military alonogside "terrorist" to refer to armed men in Sinai.