Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Egypt’s leading insurgency network has intensified operations in the Sinai Peninsula, a report said.

The Institute for National Security Studies asserted that Ansar Beit Maqdis launched an offensive against Egypt’s military and security forces in Sinai.

In a report, the Israeli think tank said the offensive was facilitated by cooperation with Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as well as Palestinian groups in the neighboring Gaza Strip.

“Terrorist activity by Ansar Beit Maqdis has increased in recent weeks,” the report, titled “Jihadi War in Sinai,” said.

“Presumably the organization’s growing activity in Sinai, which is spilling over into Egyptian cities, is affected by the tightening of its relations with non-Egyptian terrorist organizations, headed by ISIL and Salafi jihadi affiliates from the Gaza Strip, and constitutes a strong challenge to the sense of security and stability of the Sisi regime.”

The report said Ansar’s campaign was concentrated in northern and central Sinai as well as along the Egyptian border with Libya. The operations consisted of attacks on soldiers and Egypt’s natural gas pipeline, meant to be a leading source of revenue.

“The organization’s attacks are becoming more daring and more lethal, and some exhibit characteristics reminiscent of ISIL’s brutal style, including the cold-blooded execution of groups of Egyptian soldiers and beheading of all those regarded as traitors,” the report said.

ISIL was said to be playing an increasing role in Ansar. The report cited communications between Ansar and ISIL in late 2013 in which the latter was urged to finance operations in Sinai. In August 2013, Ansar killed 25 Egyptian soldiers near the Sinai-Gaza border.

“In the transcripts of conversations between leaders of the two organizations, it was learned that a senior Ansar Beit Maqdis member had reported to their his ISIL colleague on the massacre they had committed, and had asked for financing in return for logistics support, including Libyan documents and a pledge of allegiance,” the report said.

The report, dated Sept. 28, said Ansar was facilitating the flow of ISIL operatives from Libya to Egypt. At the same time, Ansar launched rocket attacks against Israel during the 50-day war in July and August 2014.

“Attention should be paid to the ever close alliance between ISIL and Ansar Beit Maqdis and Salafi jihadi organizations in Gaza,” the report said.
“This trend makes ISIL an immediate intelligence target for monitoring and counterattack in tight cooperation with both Arab and Western partners.”

Authors Yoram Schweitzer and Shani Avita asserted that the growing threat by Ansar prompted a crackdown by the Egyptian Army in September 2014.
They said Cairo has also improved security cooperation with the United States and demanded 10 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters promised by the administration of President Barack Obama.

“Relations between Egypt and the U.S. have recently tightened, and the U.S. is set to supply Apache helicopters to President Sisi’s army as an expression of partnership between the two countries in the campaign against terrorism,” the report said.

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