Egyptian air strikes follow ISIS attack in Sinai

Egyptian air force F-16 jets Saturday pounded Islamic State bases in northern Sinai for three hours in retaliation for a terrorist attack outside El Arish that left 12 Egyptian troops dead. DEBKAfile: There are exaggerated reports claiming the air strikes killed more than 100 jihadists and destroyed ammunition dumps and military trucks. In reality, they were confined to targets in Rafah, El Arish and Sheikh Zuweid in northern Sinai, whereas ISIS has concentrated the bulk of its fighting strength and infrastructure in the peninsula’s central highlands. The come out for hit-and-run terror attacks in regions controlled by the Egyptian army, but don’t maintain bases or ammunition depots there.