In 2014, an Egyptian militant group called Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis pledged allegiance to Islamic State and changed its name to Sinai Province. Most of the violence has taken place in northern Sinai, where Islamic State loyalists are based. It said on its Facebook page that a series of air strikes near Arish, the largest town on the Sinai peninsula, had also killed 45 other Islamic State fighters. There was no immediate confirmation from Sinai Province, Islamic State's offshoot in the peninsula that borders Israel, the Gaza Strip and the Suez Canal. Locals say the tunnels were used to smuggle consumer goods to Gaza to ease the consequences of the Israeli blockade.

Source: bd News24 August 04, 2016 18:45 UTC