Telecommuting peacekeepers: U.S. eyes ‘restructuring’ Sinai force amid ISIL threat

Telecommuting peacekeepers: U.S. eyes ‘restructuring’ Sinai force amid ISIL threat

Special to WorldTribune.com The United States is planning to automate and reconfigure its peacekeeping force in the Sinai Peninsula as Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) grows in strength and number, the Pentagon said. Pentagon spokesperson Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said Egypt and Israel were informed on April 12 that the U.S. would be […]

U.S. may pull lightly-armed peacekeepers out of Egypt as jihadist presence grows

U.S. may pull lightly-armed peacekeepers out of Egypt as jihadist presence grows

Special to WorldTribune.com The United States is considering pulling its force of lightly-armed peacekeepers in Egypt, fearing they could become easy targets for Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and other jihadists who have a large presence in northern Sinai. The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) have been present in the Sinai since Egypt’s […]

U.S. deploys 400 troops to assist Sinai peacekeeping force

U.S. deploys 400 troops to assist Sinai peacekeeping force

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army, amid attacks on Egyptian soldiers and police, has been ordered to bolster an international peacekeeping mission in the Sinai Peninsula. The U.S. Army said it would send troops to enhance the capabilities of the Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai. Officers said more than 400 soldiers would […]

Multinational Force officer abducted by Bedouin insurgents in Sinai

Multinational Force officer abducted by Bedouin insurgents in Sinai

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Bedouin insurgents abducted and briefly held an officer of the U.S.-led Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Officials said insurgents believed aligned with Al Qaida abducted a Hungarian member of the MFO near the northern provincial capital of El Arish. MFO officials said the officer was released after […]

Al Qaida threat limits patrols by U.S.-led Multinational Force in Sinai

Al Qaida threat limits patrols by U.S.-led Multinational Force in Sinai

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S.-led monitoring force in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula has been increasingly hampered by an Al Qaida-aligned insurgency threat, a report said. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy said that the Multinational Force and Observers were coming under constant attack by Bedouin militias linked to Al Qaida and the Hamas […]

Bedouins release first Americans to be abducted in Sinai

Bedouins release first Americans to be abducted in Sinai

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — For the first time, the Bedouin insurgency in Egypt has targeted Americans. Security sources said Bedouin gunmen believed linked to Al Qaida have abducted two Americans in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. The sources said the abduction took place on early May 31 along the southern coastal highway from Dahab to Nuweiba. […]

Bedouins abduct peacekeeping forces in the Sinai

Bedouins abduct peacekeeping forces in the Sinai

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — For the first time since their deployment more than 30 years ago, members of an international peacekeeping force have been abducted in Egypt. Egyptian security sources said Bedouins linked to Al Qaida have been targeting officers of the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai Peninsula. The sources said 10 […]

Bedouin gangs with Al Qaida tie target U.S.- monitors in the Sinai

Bedouin gangs with Al Qaida tie target U.S.- monitors in the Sinai

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — The U.S.-led monitoring force in Egypt has come under threat in the Sinai Peninsula. Officials said 300 Bedouin gunmen believed linked to Al Qaida have been threatening the Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai. They said the gunmen began by interfering with MFO patrols and were now threatening the bases […]