Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Egypt’s military has intensified operations in eastern Sinai.

Officials said the Egyptian Army has killed close to 100 suspected insurgents in operations in Sinai. They said more than 200 people, many of them foreign nationals, were arrested on charges of joining the Al Qaida-aligned revolt in the peninsula.

“We must all make more sacrifices to save the national security of Egypt,” the 3rd Army, responsible for western Sinai, said.

So far, at least 78 suspected insurgents have been killed in the latest operations in Sinai, officials said. They said 32 of the casualties were identified as foreigners believed recruited for the insurgency in the peninsula.

Egyptian military spokesman Col. Ahmed Ali said most of the operations have taken place between the divided border city of Rafah and the northern Sinai provincial capital of El Arish. Ali said 203 people were arrested as of Aug. 23.

A key insurgency stronghold was identified as Sheik Zweid, north of
Rafah. On Aug. 24, the 2nd Army destroyed at least three smuggling tunnels
that connected Sinai to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Army units also raided a
suspected safe house in Sheik Zweid.

Officials said many of those arrested have been Palestinians from the
Gaza Strip. They said the Palestinians, 50 of whom were reported injured,
were filling specialty operations, including bomb production and sniper
missions.

The military has also sought to stem the expansion of the insurgency to
southern Sinai. Officials said a suspected Al Qaida operative, identified as
Islam Abu Shakra, was arrested in the south and carried a laptop with
photographs of strategic and military sites in the area.

  Al Qaida-aligned revolt, Col. Ahmed Ali, Egyptian Army in the Sinai rounds up foreign nationals said aligned with Al Qaida, El Arish, Rafah