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ESW Week in Brief: August 24–30, 2019

Civilian fatalities continued in North Sinai, as Mada Masr reported that four children were injured by unmarked improvised explosive device in Sheikh Zuweid and a man was killed after being caught in the crossfire between the military and militants in Bir al-Abd.


Summary

  • Civilian fatalities continued in North Sinai, as Mada Masr reported that four children were injured by an unmarked improvised explosive device in Sheikh Zuweid and a man was killed after being caught in the crossfire between the military and militants in Bir al-Abd.
  • Wilayat Sinai claimed responsibility for six attacks bringing their monthly total to 13.

More Civilian Deaths, Collateral Damage Reported in North Sinai

Mada Masr reported that Suleiman Saad was killed on August 28 in Tufaha, west of Bir al-Abd, after the military fired on a line of civilian cars. The day before, four children were wounded in an unclaimed explosion in Sheikh Zuweid. A two-year-old girl was among the victims, who were taken to Arish Hospital for observation. The hashtag #Stop_Stray_Bullets (أوقفوا_الرصاص_الطائش#) circulated on Twitter after the incident, which marked one of several similar incidents to have taken place in recent months (see last week’s brief for more information).

Wilayat Sinai Claimed Responsibility for Six Attacks

On August 25, Wilayat Sinai claimed responsibility for killing Major Mahmoud Gamal Abdel Fattah Montaser in a sniper attack near Rafah.The claim referred to Montaser as a Lieutenant Colonel. On August 26, Wilayat Sinai claimed responsibility for an improvised explosive device (IED) attack, targeting a military vehicle near Sheikh Zuweid. The next day, Wilayat Sinai claimed responsibility for an improvised explosive device (IED) attack, targeting a dismounted foot patrol near Sheikh Zuweid. On August 28, Wilayat Sinai claimed responsibility for three IED attacks: one in Rafah targeted a bulldozer and killed two and of the two in Sheikh Zuweid, one targeted an armored personnel carrier and another an unspecified military vehicle.

The attacks brought Wilayat Sinai’s monthly total to 13, the group’s most since June when it claimed 15 attacks.

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