Egypt Bans Drones, Motorcycles and 4x4 Vehicles in Sinai
The Egyptian government is imposing traffic restrictions in north and central Sinai as part of the campaign against the Islamic insurgency in the region
Dr. Shaul Shay
| 26/03/2017
A suicide car bombing site in the southern Sinai town of el-Tor (Photo: AP)
Egypt's security forces have been battling a decade-long militant Islamist insurgency, which intensified since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on July 3, 2013. The insurgency has been mainly concentrated in North Sinai's Rafah, Arish, and Shiekh Zuwied.
Egypt's Chief of Military Intelligence Mohammed Farag El-Shahat said, "Militants attempted to announce an Islamic state in North Sinai's Sheikh Zuweid city after they launched a major attack on July 1, 2015." El-Shahat said the army and police in North Sinai foiled this attempt, causing losses among militants and terrorist groups.
El-Shahat said that the Egyptian army had killed nearly 500 militants in Sinai in military operations launched under the name "The Martyr's Right" since 2015.
As a part of the war against the militant Islamists, Egypt’s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail issued a decree in February 2017 to ban motorcycles from restive areas in central and north Sinai for a year. Ismail added that motorcycle spare parts are also barred, so far as this “does not contradict the demands of the national development plan of Sinai."
The decree outlines the following areas or cities: Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid, Al-Arish, Al-Midan, Maghara, Al-Khatmiya, Sidr Al-Hitan, Qalaat Al-Gindi, and Taba, including Ras Sedr area.
Egypt's Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab issued in July 2015, a decree banning 4X4 vehicles in army operations zones in Sinai. According to a statement issued by the cabinet, the ban covers all types of 4X4 vehicles – regardless of brand – in the areas designated by the Egyptian armed forces as stages of military operations in North and South Sinai governorates.
Sinai residents have long used 4X4 and other Sports Utilities Vehicles (SUVs) for transportation in the desert-warren peninsula, but Islamist militants have reportedly used 4x4 vehicles and motorcycles in repeated attacks on security forces in Sinai and elsewhere.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued a decree establishing a state of emergency in parts of North Sinai in October 2014, renewed periodically since. Under emergency law, Egypt's army and police have the authority to "take any action necessary to confront terrorism and protect public and private property in the areas under the state of emergency." A curfew is in place from 5 pm to 7 am.
Egypt bans the import and use of drones
The Egyptian government has approved a draft law banning the import or use of drones and aircraft automatically and wirelessly flown in Egypt. The bill also prohibits trafficking or use by all institutions or Egyptian public and private bodies operating in Egypt and persons and legal entities working in Egypt without the consent of the competent authorities and in accordance with the rules and specific conditions. Anyone who violates the new law will be sentenced to one to seven years in prison, as well as be fined between 500 to 1000 Egyptian pounds. The bill is expected to be referred to the Egyptian Parliament at a later date for approval.
Drones are used by terrorists to gather information for future operations against army and police targets. Several militants arrested recently had such instruments. A drone had been used in February 2017 in photographing the Jouna area in the Red Sea district.
ISIS in Iraq modifies commercial drones to drop 40mm rifle grenades. They are flown by the operator over Iraqi troops, and the grenade is dropped by electronic command. Iraqi units clearing Mosul from Islamic State occupation face aerial bombardment from modified ISIS drones every day. While ISIS had previously relied on winged drones, it was now harnessing also small quadcopters to drop munitions.
Summary
Egypt witnessed a significant rise in militancy, particularly in Sinai, since the military-backed ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 following mass protests against his rule.
Egypt’s army and police forces have been waging war over the past three years against an Islamist militant insurgency mainly in North Sinai. Hundreds of security personnel and militants have been killed in the violence.
Over the course of the last two years, the Egyptian Armed Forces launched counterattacks against militant stationing points across the Sinai Peninsula, particularly in the cities of Sheikh Zuweid, Rafah, and Al-Arish. Egypt's Chief of Military Intelligence Mohammed Farag El-Shahat said that the Egyptian army had killed nearly 500 militants in Sinai in military operations launched under the name "the martyr's right" since 2015.
Militant activity in Central and Southern Sinai was less frequent than in its more restive north, where ISIS attacks were common, but since the second field army has reinforced security presence in North Sinai, these measures have increased pressure and restricted militant operations, so they are now seeking to expand their operations in central and south Sinai.
Sinai Province, the militant group behind the insurgency, pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2014. It is the most active insurgent group in Egypt. It has been linked to a number of deadly attacks, mostly in North Sinai, but also in the capital, Cairo, and other provinces. Sinai Province has used motorcycles and 4x4 vehicles in attacks against Egyptian security forces, and there is a high probability that they will follow ISIS in Iraq using drones. The Egyptian countermeasures will reduce the operational capabilities of the terror group.
The Egyptian government is imposing traffic restrictions in north and central Sinai as part of the campaign against the Islamic insurgency in the region
Egypt's security forces have been battling a decade-long militant Islamist insurgency, which intensified since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on July 3, 2013. The insurgency has been mainly concentrated in North Sinai's Rafah, Arish, and Shiekh Zuwied.
Egypt's Chief of Military Intelligence Mohammed Farag El-Shahat said, "Militants attempted to announce an Islamic state in North Sinai's Sheikh Zuweid city after they launched a major attack on July 1, 2015." El-Shahat said the army and police in North Sinai foiled this attempt, causing losses among militants and terrorist groups.
El-Shahat said that the Egyptian army had killed nearly 500 militants in Sinai in military operations launched under the name "The Martyr's Right" since 2015.
As a part of the war against the militant Islamists, Egypt’s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail issued a decree in February 2017 to ban motorcycles from restive areas in central and north Sinai for a year. Ismail added that motorcycle spare parts are also barred, so far as this “does not contradict the demands of the national development plan of Sinai."
The decree outlines the following areas or cities: Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid, Al-Arish, Al-Midan, Maghara, Al-Khatmiya, Sidr Al-Hitan, Qalaat Al-Gindi, and Taba, including Ras Sedr area.
Egypt's Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab issued in July 2015, a decree banning 4X4 vehicles in army operations zones in Sinai. According to a statement issued by the cabinet, the ban covers all types of 4X4 vehicles – regardless of brand – in the areas designated by the Egyptian armed forces as stages of military operations in North and South Sinai governorates.
Sinai residents have long used 4X4 and other Sports Utilities Vehicles (SUVs) for transportation in the desert-warren peninsula, but Islamist militants have reportedly used 4x4 vehicles and motorcycles in repeated attacks on security forces in Sinai and elsewhere.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued a decree establishing a state of emergency in parts of North Sinai in October 2014, renewed periodically since. Under emergency law, Egypt's army and police have the authority to "take any action necessary to confront terrorism and protect public and private property in the areas under the state of emergency." A curfew is in place from 5 pm to 7 am.
Egypt bans the import and use of drones
The Egyptian government has approved a draft law banning the import or use of drones and aircraft automatically and wirelessly flown in Egypt. The bill also prohibits trafficking or use by all institutions or Egyptian public and private bodies operating in Egypt and persons and legal entities working in Egypt without the consent of the competent authorities and in accordance with the rules and specific conditions. Anyone who violates the new law will be sentenced to one to seven years in prison, as well as be fined between 500 to 1000 Egyptian pounds. The bill is expected to be referred to the Egyptian Parliament at a later date for approval.
Drones are used by terrorists to gather information for future operations against army and police targets. Several militants arrested recently had such instruments. A drone had been used in February 2017 in photographing the Jouna area in the Red Sea district.
ISIS in Iraq modifies commercial drones to drop 40mm rifle grenades. They are flown by the operator over Iraqi troops, and the grenade is dropped by electronic command. Iraqi units clearing Mosul from Islamic State occupation face aerial bombardment from modified ISIS drones every day. While ISIS had previously relied on winged drones, it was now harnessing also small quadcopters to drop munitions.
Summary
Egypt witnessed a significant rise in militancy, particularly in Sinai, since the military-backed ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 following mass protests against his rule.
Egypt’s army and police forces have been waging war over the past three years against an Islamist militant insurgency mainly in North Sinai. Hundreds of security personnel and militants have been killed in the violence.
Over the course of the last two years, the Egyptian Armed Forces launched counterattacks against militant stationing points across the Sinai Peninsula, particularly in the cities of Sheikh Zuweid, Rafah, and Al-Arish. Egypt's Chief of Military Intelligence Mohammed Farag El-Shahat said that the Egyptian army had killed nearly 500 militants in Sinai in military operations launched under the name "the martyr's right" since 2015.
Militant activity in Central and Southern Sinai was less frequent than in its more restive north, where ISIS attacks were common, but since the second field army has reinforced security presence in North Sinai, these measures have increased pressure and restricted militant operations, so they are now seeking to expand their operations in central and south Sinai.
Sinai Province, the militant group behind the insurgency, pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2014. It is the most active insurgent group in Egypt. It has been linked to a number of deadly attacks, mostly in North Sinai, but also in the capital, Cairo, and other provinces. Sinai Province has used motorcycles and 4x4 vehicles in attacks against Egyptian security forces, and there is a high probability that they will follow ISIS in Iraq using drones. The Egyptian countermeasures will reduce the operational capabilities of the terror group.
