Egyptian helicopters hit Sinai terrorists with missiles, killing at least twenty

Egypt deployed attack helicopters Wednesday Aug. 8, to fire missiles to break up attacks by Islamist terrorists on three Egyptian security checkpoints in northern Sinai near El Arish, some 50 kilometers from the Gaza-Israel border. At least 20 people were killed, mostly attackers, in the ensuing battle and six wounded – a military officer, two soldiers, two policemen and a civilian. It was the first time Egypt had used missiles in Sinai since its October 1973 war on Israel. Israeli Defense Ministry official Amos Gilead confirmed security coordination took place between Egypt and Israel “along the lines provided by the 1979 peace accords” and other confidential channels.