More Egyptian troops die in pursuit of Sinai terrorists

Egyptian forces in pursuit of the Islamist gunmen who attacked Egyptian and Israeli military sites Sunday pulled back on the second day after losing more men in fierce engagements with the terrorists, in addition to the 16 commandos killed in the first attack. Cairo has clamped a blackout down on the clashes and number of losses. DEBKAfile reports that at least two Egyptian soldiers were killed Monday in a firefight with the Islamist gunmen at Sheikh Zuwaid in northern Sinai. Far from turning tail, they are resisting Egyptian forces from fortified positions marking the trails to their lairs in the central Sinai mountains. The Egyptian army shows no sign of preparing to break through.