UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned late on Wednesday a series of coordinated terrorist assaults in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula that killed dozens earlier in the day, asserting his solidarity with Egypt in its battle against terrorism.
“The United Nations stands firm with the people of Egypt in their fight against terrorism,” Ban said in a statement by his press office.
IS militants on Wednesday launched a wave of unprecedented attacks on several military checkpoints in North Sinai, which the army said left 17 soldiers dead and stoked hours of fighting with troops in which over 100 insurgents were killed.
The Secretary-General offered his condolences to the families of the victims and the government of Egypt, his office said.
There have been discrepancies in reports about the number of those killed by the militants in the violence, with the UN saying in its statement it left over 70 soldiers dead.
Source: Ahram Online
