Egypt army kills terrorist leader in central Sinai

Egyptian armed forces yesterday announced that they had targeted Nasser Abu Zaqul, the leader of Wilayat Sinai, the Daesh-affiliated group which operates in the Sinai Peninsula.

The armed forces said in a statement that the Third Field Army forces raided a number of mountainous areas in Sinai as part of intensive efforts to tighten control over terrorist activity in the area.

The statement added that the military operation resulted in the death of Abu Zaqul after a heavy exchange of fire.

Human rights organisations have on numerous occasions accused Egypt of using the fight against terrorist groups in the Sinai as a ruse to cover up extrajudicial killing of opponents and critics. No group has been able to independently verify the army’s claims that it has targeted terrorist groups and fighters.

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