Israel Stays Quiet on Drone Strike Near Egypt Border
Image by getty images
Israel is neither confirming nor denying that it was responsible for a drone attack on terrorists near its border with Egypt.
In a statement issued late Saturday night, Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said that ‘‘Israel respects the full sovereignty of Egypt,’’ and that Israel is ‘‘aware of the Egyptian military’s increased activity against terror infrastructures in the Sinai Peninsula.’’
Yaalon said “rumors and speculation” over the drone strike on Friday would not harm the peace between Egypt and Israel. It is believed that Israel and Egypt cooperated in stopping a rocket launch against Israel.
The strike killed four armed members of a terrorist organization preparing an attack on Israel, according to reports.
Egyptian officials at first said Israel perpetrated the attack, but later said an Egyptian helicopter launched the airstrike, according to the Associated Press.
The attack came a day after Israel closed its Eilat airport for two hours, reportedly after warnings from Egypt that terrorists could target the area.
Ansar Jerusalem, a terror group linked to al-Qaida, said its members were the targets of the drone attack.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
