Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — The Egyptian military has been rocked by the first insurgency interception of an attack aircraft in the Sinai Peninsula.

Military sources said insurgents linked to Al Qaida shot down a U.S.-origin AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.

The Apache was destroyed during a flight in northern Sinai on Jan. 25 and all five soldiers aboard were killed.

“The military aircraft fell yesterday,” Egyptian military spokesman Col. Ahmed Ali said on Jan. 27.

Ali, who acknowledged the casualties, did not provide details of the crash. But military sources said the Apache was downed by a surface-to-air missile fired by unidentified insurgents in Kharouba, located in the North Sinai province.

The Egyptian Air Force has a fleet of at least 35 Apaches, most of which underwent a major upgrade. The Air Force has ordered additional attack helicopters in a project suspended by the United States.

Al Qaida claimed responsibility for the attack. On Jan. 27, the Al Qaida-aligned Ansar Beit Al Maqdis said it fired a missile that destroyed the Apache near Sheik Zweid, located along the border with the Gaza Strip.

This marked the first downing of an Egyptian aircraft since the revolt
in Sinai began in 2011. In August 2013, the military launched a
counter-insurgency offensive that killed more than 200 Islamist fighters.

Ansar also claimed responsibility for a rocket-propelled grenade attack
on three checkpoints around Sheik Zweid. The military said four soldiers
were killed and 13 were injured in the RPG strike.

  AH-64 Apache, Al Qaida insurgents shoot down Egyptian Apache helicopter, Ansar Beit Al Maqdis, Col. Ahmed Ali, Insurgents in first shoot down Egyptian Apache helicopter, Kharouba