Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Israel, in an unprecedented move, is said to have launched an air strike on Al Qaida fighters in Egypt.

Egyptian sources said the Israel Air Force sent a combat unmanned aerial vehicle into the Sinai Peninsula. They said the UAV fired air-to-ground rockets that killed five suspected Al Qaida attackers and destroyed a launcher.

The UAV operation is said to have taken place on Aug. 9 at El Agra in northeastern Sinai near the Israeli border. The sources said the UAV strike was coordinated with the Egyptian Army.

The Egyptian military reported the attack on El Agra, which consisted of two explosions. But military spokesman Col. Ahmed Ali said Israel was not involved the strike.

“There is no truth in form and substance to the presence of any attacks from the Israeli side inside Egyptian territory,” Ali said.

Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency said the target was a rocket
launcher and five Al Qaida fighters were killed. MENA said the attack on El
Agra, outside Rafah, consisted of two Egyptian combat helicopters, including
a U.S.-origin AH-64 Apache. The news agency said the targeted site contained
three missile.

The Egyptian military has also been conducting air reconnaissance
operations in eastern Sinai near the Israeli border. The sources said the
military received intelligence of Al Qaida squads in the area.

An Al Qaida-aligned militia, Ansar Beit Al Maqdis, said it was the
target of the attack. In a statement, Ansar said four fighters, identified
as members of Bedouin tribes, were killed but the squad leader escaped.

“What is greater treason than the Egyptian Army allowing the Zionist
UAVs to violate Egyptian airspace now and then?” Ansar said.

The UAV attack, not confirmed by Israel, took place in wake of the
Israeli military closure of an international airport on Aug. 8. At the time,
the military said the Eilat International Airport was believed to be a
target of insurgency squads in Sinai.

“The state of Israel respects the sovereignty of Egypt and is aware of
the Egyptian military’s bolstered activity against terror in the Sinai
Peninsula,” Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said. “We will not allow
rumors and speculations, as they developed over the past 24 hours, to harm
the peace agreement.”

  AH-64 Apache, Ansar Beit Al Maqdis, Col. Ahmed Ali, El Agra, Israeli combat drone said to kill five Al Qaida operatives in Sinai, Rafah