Alwaght- At least 13 Egyptian policemen were killed following a terrorist attack by an ISIS-affiliated terrorist group in Egypt’s North Sinai.
The Saturday attack, which ISIS-affiliated Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis (Wilayat Sinai) claimed responsibility for, left at least seven others injured and targeted the Safa checkpoint in El-Arish city.
State-run MENA news agency said police officer and seven conscripts were killed when a mortar shell hit the security checkpoint in al-Safa neighborhood south of the city.
Police cordoned the scene of the attack, while a search operation to track the attackers was launched.
Violence has swept North Sinai following the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013.
An estimated 2100 people were killed in North Sinai in 2015, including roughly 1800 described by the military as “terrorists,” 150 civilians, 40 police officers and conscripts, and 140 military personnel.
Most of the attacks have been claimed by Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis terrorist group, which has changed its name to "Sinai State" and declared loyalty to the notorious ISIS Takfiri terrorist group.
The year 2016 has seen a rise in both attacks and counter-terrorism operations with up to 100 terrorists killed since the start of the year.
