Egyptian military kills 19 Islamic State militants including top leader

A Lockheed F16 of the Egyptian air force.  Egypt also has French and Russian built fighter jets.

Egypt’s army has announced on Thursday killing 19 militants from the Islamic State (IS), including a top leader, in airstrikes launched against the group in Central and North Sinai.

According to a statement released by the Military spokesperson, the leader was the head of the Sharia committee in the group and was responsible for interrogations. The strikes launched by the Egyptian Air Forces have also damaged four vehicles owned by the terrorist group.

The army said that 11 of those killed were operating in the Nile Delta Governorates.

The announcement of the Egyptian Army comes two days after IS claimed responsibility for an attack at a security checkpoint that took place near St Catherine monastery, killing one police officer and injuring four others. The Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced that the militant who attacked the checkpoint was killed in a police shooting.

Full story