Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Egypt has reported the capture of an Al Qaida-aligned commander in the Sinai Peninsula.

Security sources said the Egyptian Army captured the commander of the Takfir W’al Hijra network in Sinai in an operation on Oct. 31.

The commander was identified as Ali Abdul Fatah Hassan, arrested in Kharouba near the Sinai border with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

“He is one of the leading terrorists in the area,” a source said.

The capture came during an Army search-and-destroy counter-insurgency operation near the Gaza-Sinai border. The sources said Army and Central Security Forces units raided 15 suspected strongholds, including Bir Al Abbed, El Arish, Rafah and Sheik Zweid.

“There were many arrests and a large amount of weapons were found,” the source said.

Hassan was said to have been a leader in the Al Qaida-aligned insurgency
in Sinai. The sources said Hassan was believed close to Al Qaida commander
Ayman Zawahiri and established a network that included Bedouins and
Palestinians throughout northern Sinai.

The sources said Hassan’s chief aide was also captured in the CI
operation. In all, the army reported the arrest of 25 suspected insurgents.

  Ali Abdul Fatah Hassan, Ayman Zawahiri, Bir Al Abbed, Egypt captures Al Qaida commander in raid near Gaza-Sinai border, Takfir W’al Hijra