At least five Islamic militants were killed last night in an Israeli drone strike in the Egyptian Sinai, near the Israeli-Egyptian border.
The unprecedented attack marks the first time Israeli forces have operated against a target inside Egypt since the two countries signed a peace treaty in 1979. Egyptian security sources confirmed the attack was co-ordinated in advance with Cairo.
There was no official confirmation from Israel or Egypt but, according to Egyptian military sources, the militants were planning to launch shoulder-fired missiles at Israel from Rafah, which straddles the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. According to Egyptian reports, Sinai militant groups decided to launch rockets at Israel, after acquiring them via Red Sea routes.
Last night’s attack coincides with an ongoing campaign by the Egyptian army against Islamic gunmen in the Sinai. At least 60 militants have reportedly been killed in the last month. Egypt has beefed up its forces in the area, including the deployment of assault helicopters.
Citing widening “terrorist operations” in “recent times”, the Egyptian army said it was conducting an intensified campaign in Sinai in co-ordination with the interior ministry to crack down on militants who “threaten Egyptian national security”.
Israeli security officials estimate there may be as many as 3,000 Islamic gunmen operating in the Sinai peninsula. Gunmen based mainly in northern Sinai near Israel's border have escalated attacks on Egyptian security forces and other targets since July 3rd, when the Egyptian army deposed president Mohamed Morsi.
On Thursday, Israel closed the airport in the Red Sea holiday resort of Eilat for two hours following a tip-off from Egyptian intelligence.
Peace talks
In a separate development, the head of the Palestinian negotiating team with Israel has warned that continuing Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank undermines peace efforts.
Speaking less than a week before the opening of substantive negotiations in Jerusalem, Saeb Erekat wrote to US secretary of state John Kerry that recent announcements by Israel of more settlement homes were an indication of "Israel's bad faith and lack of seriousness".
The letter followed Israeli approval this week for more than 1,000 new homes in West Bank settlements and Jewish neighbourhoods in east Jerusalem and the decision to place 90 settlements on a list of communities which receive special government benefits.
