Egypt’s armed forces launch Sinai counter-terror operation

Egypt’s military embarked Saturday on a large-scale operation dubbed “Desert Storm” for rooting out the increasingly violent Salafist and allied terrorist elements in the Sinai Peninsula. Second and Third Army formations are heading out to besiege their strongholds in the northern and central regions. Field army, naval and air units are blocking mountain roads, tunnels and sea ferries linking Sinai to Egypt proper. DEBKAfile was the first world publication to disclose on July 19 that this operation was about to start and that it was to be led by the Second and Third armies.