Eleven Egyptian soldiers killed in Sinai bomb blasts

Two big car bomb explosions Wednesday killed at least 11 Egyptian soldiers and injured 17 at Egyptian El Arish intelligence HQ for Sinai on the Gazan border and a nearby checkpoint. The Rafah crossing has been closed. Earlier, Egyptian officials reported that the major offensive to root out terrorist lairs in Sinai had reaped successes. Thus far, security officials say 50 gunmen have been killed, 150 injured and dozens arrested.  More than 150 smuggling tunnels linking Sinai to the Gaza Strip, nearly 95% of the total, have been destroyed as well as 150 buildings.