Electricity back online in Sinai after 12 hours

CAIRO – 10 February 2018: After the electricity and telephone service cut out for almost 12 hours in Sinai, the service is now back online, said a source at the telephone exchange. The blackout came after the Egyptian armed forces launched operation “Sinai 2018” on Friday to eliminate the existence of terrorists in Sinai.

Military spokesman Colonel Tamer El-Rafei announced a major new military operation to purge the country of terrorism. He read a statement from the General Command of the Armed Forces on state-run TV, announcing the launch of the operation.

“Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018" comes within the armed forces’ ongoing counterterrorism operations in Sinai that are aimed at eliminating terrorists and takfiri elements, as well as eradicating their breeding grounds and hotbeds.

Sinai, in particular, has been a staging ground for militants operating in Egypt for decades. It is also believed to be home to the Islamic State’s Egyptian branch, which has been primarily targeting Christians and security forces in the area.

On Friday, Rafei released the army statement "Communiqué 1 from the General Command of the Armed Forces" on state TV. It details the launch of the operation and the state of high alert raised across different governorates.