Why Egypt’s military operations against ISIS are ineffective

The Egyptian army said Saturday, after ISIS had massacred 305 mosque worshipers in northern Sinai – among them 30 children – that it had conducted raids against terrorist command centers in the Rafah region and air strikes against the terrorist vehicles, which had mounted the mosque attack in central Sinai. The army claimed that at least 40 terrorists were killed. DEBKAfile’s military sources ask how, after the Egyptian army has been battling the scourge of the ISIS Sinai branch for three years, jihadist command centers still functioned in the Rafah region of northern Sinai on the Gaza Strip border?  That is because, until now, Egyptian raids and air strikes targeted empty sites or tribal encampments unassociated with ISIS, and their aerial bombardments of ISIS hideouts in the mountains of central Sinai were not followed up with high-risk raids deep inside the caves, where the jihadists shelter. By night, Egyptian troops serving in Sinai shut themselves into closed barracks and ISIS operatives are out and about to take over their checkpoints and control the highways and roads of the Sinai Peninsula.

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20 thoughts on “Why Egypt’s military operations against ISIS are ineffective

  • Nov 25, 2017 @ 13:12 at 13:12
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    How can we help the Egyptians destroy ISIS?
    Will they take our intell data, can we use drones to give up to minute info?

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    • Nov 25, 2017 @ 16:39 at 16:39
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      Actually, I’m thinking the ISIS folks have just worn down the will of the Egyptians, . . . to the point that they think it’s better to be safe, . . . go home at night, . . . rather than risk an altercation where multiple Egyptian soldiers might be killed.

      What it boils down to is a training issue. Train hard enough, . . . train correctly, . . . be in good physical shape, . . . you can be a good, effective soldier. Don’t, . . . and you have to lock yourself up at night.

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      • Nov 25, 2017 @ 16:46 at 16:46
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        Egypt can’t defeat ISIS for the very same reasons Israel had beaten her so many times. Part of them you correctly cited, but in general there is no will to fight, thus reliance on such gestures as bombing empty sites from the high above, no will to go and perform mop up operations prone to carry many casualties, and incessant lies and bragging about numeros terrorists being killed, when at best it was one tenths of them if any.

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      • Nov 26, 2017 @ 2:32 at 2:32
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        Your right and bari the queer destroyed AMERICAS military. The tea drinking Egyptians are spineless.

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  • Nov 25, 2017 @ 19:47 at 19:47
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    Israel should go do it for them. Then Egypt will be grateful for the help.

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    • Nov 26, 2017 @ 14:57 at 14:57
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      Well said. Egypt and Israel should work in tandem to kill all Isis remaining presence in Sinai.

      Reply

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