Egyptian sources claim that the large scale counter-terrorism operation carried out by the Egyptian army against insurgents in the northern Sinai Peninsula is achieving positive results. The operation has intensified since the Islamist terrorist group called Sinai Province carried out a series of coordinated attacks that killed more than 30 Egyptians, among them military personnel and civilians, in late January.

This past Friday, the Egyptian military reportedly killed 27 militants affiliated with Sinai Province terrorists in the northern Sinai region “in one of the biggest security operations in the region in months.” In a later confrontation with Egyptian security forces, 20 more terrorists were reported killed.

Sinai Province is the new name of Ansar Beit-al-Maqdis, the radical Sunni terror group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)

Sources in the peninsula reported on February 7 that more than 150 terror operatives were killed as a result of a three-day-long operation carried out by the army. The Al-Yaum al-Sabe Egyptian newspaper reported that 47 of the casualties were considered senior members of the terror group by the Egyptian security services.

Reuters reports that the Egyptian counter-offensive against Sinai Province has yielded some gains:

All those ambitions depend on maintaining national security and taming militants in Sinai, a remote but strategic part of Egypt located between Israel, the Gaza Strip and the Suez Canal. So Sisi has poured more troops into the area and won support from some Bedouins, who have helped the army locate weapon-smuggling routes used by jihadi groups, security officials said. The tactics have brought gains.

Early last year, Ansar was in control of about a third of the villages in Sinai and several areas were no-go zones for the army. Now the picture has changed, according to the Ansar commander, security officials and Sinai residents. Their accounts of the struggle suggest the militants, while still capable of deadly attacks, have lost some of their previous momentum.

“A year ago we could not get to places where they hide,” said a police captain, referring to a traditional Ansar stronghold. “Now we are spread across north Sinai.”

Egyptian security forces have tightened security at checkpoints to deter suicide bombers, including by increasing the number of troops.

An Israeli military officer told Reuters that security cooperation with Egypt is currently better than it was under the rule of former President Mohamed Morsi, noting:

“The situation on the border is stable. The Egyptians have been taking action to secure Sinai, knowing that insecurity is a threat to Egyptian rule. We coordinate when it comes to activities near the (border) fence in order to prevent terrorist attacks potentially spreading into Israel.”

An Egyptian official also acknowledged that Israeli intelligence assistance was “appreciated. ”

[Photo: Twitter Sinai Province]