Awqaf minister mourns Armed Forces martyrs in Sinai

CAIRO - 16 October 2017: Awqaf Minister Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa mourned the martyrs of the Armed Forces, saluting their sacrifices in defending the country from the terrorism.

Speaking to MENA after the martyrdom of six Armed Forces soldiers in clashes in North Sinai, Gomaa prayed to Allah to rest the victims’ souls in peace and offered his condolences to their families.

Law enforcement forces foiled on Sunday a terrorist attack that targeted security checkpoints in al-Kawadis area north east of North Sinai's capital city of Arish, the military spokesman said.

Twenty-four terrorists were killed and two armored vehicles were destroyed in the attack, Colonel Tamer el Refaee said.

The clashes also left six army soldiers martyred, he said, adding that a manhunt was launched to arrest the terrorists behind the attack.