“The Al-Arish airport was targeted today in an [artillery] barrage that led to the death of an army officer and injury of two others and partially damaged a helicopter,” Egyptian army spokesman Tamer al-Refai said in a statement.
“Security personnel opened fire on the source of the attack and are now combing the surrounding area for the perpetrators,” al-Rifai said.
Tuesday’s attack, he added, had occurred during a visit to the area by Defense Minister Sedki Sobhi and Interior Minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar to inspect the security situation in Al-Arish city.
The Sinai Peninsula has remained at the epicenter of a militant insurgency since mid-2013, when the army ousted Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, in a bloody military coup.
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