Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Egypt has been bracing for Islamist attacks on the Suez
Canal.

Security sources said the intelligence community has determined that the
canal would mark a leading target of attack by the ousted Muslim Brotherhood
and its Al Qaida militia allies.

The sources said Brotherhood fighters were organizing a nationwide insurgency campaign on the eve of the trial of Egypt’s first Islamist president, Mohammed Mori, overthrown in a military coup in July 2013.

“A successful attack on the canal would have greater strategic repercussions than just about anywhere else in Egypt,” a source said.

The sources said the Egyptian military and security forces expanded their presence around the 160-kilometer canal, the main transit for U.S. military ships to the Gulf and Afghanistan.

The sources said thousands of additional troops, backed by main battle tanks and helicopters, were deployed on both sides of the canal.

The effort has been led by the 3rd Army, responsible for the canal. The
sources said the 3rd Army, backed by the Central Security Forces,
established checkpoints along all roads to the canal and was searching
vehicles for weapons or fighters.

The sources said the concern was that insurgents from Ismailia or the
Sinai Peninsula would smuggle rockets to attack slow-moving ships through
the canal. At least two attacks were reported on shipping over the last four
months. On Nov. 3, the Egyptian military announced the destruction of eight
underwater diesel depots that contained 334,000 liters of fuel meant for the
Gaza Strip.

Morsi and 14 other Brotherhood leaders were scheduled to begin trial on
Nov. 4 in Cairo. Over the last few days, the military-backed regime has
banned demonstrations and arrested scores of Brotherhood operatives.

The sources said the government and military were also working to
enhance the communications infrastructure around the canal and in Sinai.
They said the effort would facilitate rapid-response operations in
the peninsula.

In October, the Communications Ministry issued a tender for mobile
telephone services in Sinai. The sources said the project called for the
construction of relay stations in five regions by mid-2014.

“The government [is preparing] for large investments to develop mobile
services in five regions in Sinai,” National Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority director Hisham Alayly said.

  Al Qaida militias, Egypt braces for Muslim Brotherhood attacks on Suez Canal, Egyptian 3rd Army, Ismailia, Mohammed Morsi