The Rafah Terror Massacre

As the Islamic State group keeps losing territory in Syria and Iraq, its Sinai-based branch continues to launch deadly terror attacks in Egypt. Col. (res.) Dr. Shaul Shay discusses the latest attack on an army checkpoint near Rafah that claimed the lives of 26 soldiers

The Rafah Terror Massacre

Egyptian army soldiers stand guard in Rafah, Egypt (Photo: AP)

Islamic militants attacked a remote Egyptian army checkpoint near Rafah in North Sinai with a suicide car bomb and heavy machine gun fire, on July 7, 2017. At least 26 soldiers were killed and 33 injured in the deadliest attack in the past year. The dead included a high-ranking special forces officer, Col. Ahmed el-Mansi. Egyptian army declared that 40 attackers killed and six cars of the militants were destroyed in the attack.

The Islamic State group issued a claim of responsibility, saying in an online statement that it had carried out the attack as the Egyptian army was preparing an assault on ISIS positions in Sinai. According to the IS statement, a second car bomber was used in the attack to strike an army convoy sent as a reinforcement to the embattled soldiers.

The Attack

The attack began in the early morning, when a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a checkpoint at a military compound in the village of el-Barth, southwest of the town of Rafah. The Egyptian troops at the compound were estimated to have numbered about 60 but the checkpoint that was attacked was isolated, and nearest army compound was an hour's drive away.

The suicide blast at the start of the attack likely disabled the checkpoint's military communications system, prompting one of the officers to use his cellphone to record an audio message and send it to a colleague via WhatsApp, seeking help and asking for prayers. The message was later widely circulated on social media.

Dozens of masked militants then descended on the site in Land Cruiser SUVs, and dozens of motorcycles opened fire on the soldiers with machine guns. The shooting lasted nearly half an hour. When the attack subsided, the militants apparently looted the checkpoint, snatching weapons and ammunition before fleeing.

Col. Ahmed Mansi, the commander of the battalion, was killed during the clashes, while the army besieged groups of terrorists holed up in Al-Malahi Mosque and nearby houses in the village of Al-Nqizat near Al-Joura airport.

A number of militants were killed in the shootout, indicating the soldiers had fought back, and some of their vehicles were abandoned at the scene.

Egyptian army spokesperson Tamer el-Rifai confirmed the attack on his official Facebook page, saying that 26 army personnel were killed or wounded. He did not provide a breakdown. He said the army foiled attacks that targeted a number of other checkpoints in the Rafah area and that 40 militants were killed. On his page, al-Rifai posted photographs of allegedly slain militants, dressed in military uniforms, typically worn by IS extremists. The Defense Ministry posted a video on its official website showing aircraft taking off and striking vehicles and positions allegedly belonging to the militants who carried out the attack.

The attacked checkpoint was set up two months ago in an area that was the site of battles between the tribesmen and militants. The deployment of Egyptian troops in the area was intended to support the local armed tribesmen from the Tarabeen and to cut a key militant supply line between the outskirts of Rafah and central Sinai.

The Responses in Egypt

The Egyptian cabinet, Al-Azhar and the Coptic Orthodox Church have all condemned the terrorist attack. In an official statement, the cabinet praised the army for "foiling the attack" and Prime Minister Sherif Ismail offered his condolences to the victims. Ismail stressed the necessity of efforts worldwide joining to confront terrorism and putting an end to the support for terrorism.

Al-Azhar also issued a statement condemning the attack; Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb said that "the pure blood (of the slain soldiers) will be a curse to those cowards and their supporters domestically and internationally, and those who sold their religion and betrayed their nations." El-Tayyeb also called for unified international efforts in countering terrorist groups and those countries which sponsor them. The sheikh also called on all Egyptians to stand behind their armed forces and police to defeat terrorism.

The Coptic Orthodox Church’s official spokesman, Father Bolous Halim, said the church "offers its condolences, hoping that the families of the martyrs find solace."

"May God aid Egypt’s army and its police in their just and victorious fight against terrorism and evil powers that target the aspirations of the nation and its stability and security. May Egypt live free, powerful and secure in the care of God," the spokesperson added.

Over the past months, ISIS has focused its attacks on Egypt's Christian minority and carried out at least four deadly attacks that killed dozens, prompting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to declare a state of emergency in the country.

The International Response to the Attack

A number of foreign countries and leaders have issued statements condemning the militant attack in North Sinai.

The United States: "Another outrageous terror attack in Egypt. The United States stands with Egypt against terrorism," the US Embassy in Cairo posted on its Twitter account.

Germany: In an official statement, the German embassy in Cairo said there was "no justification for such violent terrorist acts," stressing that Germany supports Egypt in combating terrorism. "We share the sorrow with the families of the victims," the statement added.

The United Kingdom: "I am disgusted by the terrorist attack on members of the Egyptian Armed Forces as they did their duty in Rafah, North Sinai today," UK ambassador to Egypt, John Casson, said in a statement posted on his official Twitter account. He added that the UK acknowledges the "sorrow and anger" that Egyptians feel today, expressing his deep condolences. "These inhumane attacks, whether in Egypt or in England, only strengthen our determination to defeat the terrorist killers," Casson said, adding that the UK would continue standing with Egypt in its war against terrorism. 

Kuwait stressed its support for all measures taken by Egypt to preserve its security and stability. All efforts should be made to "fight such dangerous phenomena that targets humanity and the security and stability of the whole world," read a foreign ministry statement.

The UAE, in a foreign ministry statement, described the attack as a "new crime that is added to the black record of terrorism and terrorists." 

Tunisia also decried the attack through its foreign affairs ministry. "In the face of the dangerous implications of terrorism and extremism of all kinds for the security and stability of states and the serious threat to international peace and security, Tunis is reiterating its call for the international community to join efforts and intensify coordination to overcome it and snuff out its sources," the statement said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the attack, with presidency spokesperson Nail Abo Rodaina denouncing in strongest terms the terrorist operation. He also stressed the Palestinian nation and leadership’s support for Egypt’s war on terrorism.

Palestinian group Hamas, which is seeking to improve relations with Cairo, quickly condemned Friday's attack. "We consider it a criminal, terrorist, and cowardly attack that doesn't target Egypt only, but the security and stability of the entire Arab nation," Hamas' spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said.

Summary

Egypt's security forces have been battling an Islamist insurgency for several years in North Sinai. The insurgency in Sinai has escalated after the army ousted former President Mohamed Morsi.

The militant group, Ansar Beit al Maqdis, staging the insurgency pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2014 and adopted the name Sinai Province. The Islamic militants have killed hundreds of security personnel, and the Egyptian troops have also killed hundreds of militants during operations in the region. ISIS has so far failed in seizing territory in Sinai but maintains a presence in areas of Rafah, the town of Sheikh Zuweid, and in Sinai's largest city, El-Arish.

Northern Sinai has been under a state of emergency since October 2014, after Islamic militants killed more than 30 soldiers in a single attack. There was a significant decline in attacks this year in Sinai, with the one major assault killing eight police officers in El-Arish in January 2017.

Despite the official narrative that claims the area is witnessing stability and that development projects are being worked on, casualties among security personnel and civilians in Sinai continue on an almost weekly basis.

The Sinai attack came as the Islamic State group is losing its Caliphate in Syria and Iraq. The coordinated attack near Rafah suggested the Sinai-based ISIS branch is still resilient and capable of challenging the Egyptian security forces.