Smoke rises following an explosion by an airstrike in Egypt’s northern Sinai Peninsula, as seen from the Israel-Egypt Border, in Kerem Shalom town, southern Israel, Wednesday, July 1, 2015. Islamic militants on Wednesday unleashed a wave of simultaneous attacks, including suicide car bombings, on Egyptian army checkpoints in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula, killing tens of soldiers, security and military officials said. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
ISIS unleashed a “wave of simultaneous attacks” on Egyptian Army positions near the Gaza border:
The coordinated assaults, which included up to 70 militants, came a day after Egypt’s president pledged to step up the battle against Islamic militants and two days after the country’s state prosecutor was assassinated in the capital, Cairo. The BBC reported that the clashes are ongoing, with militants reportedly overtaking a main police station.
“This incident is a game-changer.”
– Israeli official
The officials said scores of militants were besieging Sheikh Zuweid’s main police station, shelling it with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades and exchanging fire with dozens of policemen inside. Reuters reported that militants planted bombs along a road between the police station and an army camp to deter reenforcements.
What the Israeli official said, because it looks like ISIS is trying to open a communications route to Gaza — and a new fighting front directly against Israel.
The Jewish State has so far enjoyed being buffered on all sides. Their northern Golan border with Syria is largely controlled by the Free Syrian Army and other moderate-ish groups. Jordan to the west has yet to “enjoy” the fruits of the Arab Spring. And the Egyptian Army has kept the lid on things down south in the Sinai.
I’m imagining what would happen if the radicalized Palestinian population in Gaza were to receive fighters, training, and supplies from ISIS — and what I’m imagining isn’t good.
You would be safe in imagining that Jerusalem and Cairo will be cooperating quite closely to squelch this ASAP.
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