Three civilians were killed on Saturday evening in North Sinai by militants believed to belong to Islamic State (IS) affiliate ”Sinai Province”, according to residents.
Two were killed south of Rafah while the third was killed in Al-Arish.
“Ahmed Medhat, who is 25 years old, was killed on Saturday in Al-Arish. He was a taxi driver and is believed to be originally from Port Said. He used his taxi to deliver food to army camps in the same city. Militants believed to be from IS-affiliated group ’Sinai Province’ killed him,” a resident from Al-Arish told Daily News Egypt on condition of anonymity.
Militants monitored him while delivering orders to army camps in Al-Arish and killed him directly before sundown on Saturday, according to the resident.
Similarly, two residents in Rafah were killed on Saturday evening by militants believed to be from “Sinai Province”.
Militants shot dead Mohamed Eid, 75, and his nephew Ahmed Hamad, 17, after a quarrel in which the two refused to cooperate with the militants, according to a Rafah-based journalist who spoke to Daily News Egypt on condition of anonymity.
The targeting of civilians by militants has increased recently due to the absence of permanent state security forces in all cities and villages in the North Sinai governorate where military clashes continue with IS-affiliated group “Sinai Province”.
In addition to militants targeting North Sinai residents, civilians in the city of Sheikh Zuweid told Daily News Egypt recently that they are being subjected to violations from a pro-army militia named “Death Group no.103”. The group reportedly began with just 10 members, but that number increased when the army decided to raise its member count. They allegedly act just like army forces, forming checkpoints and using army vehicles for inspections.
Violations by the group include the killing of three members from Al-Sawarka tribe that had been in dispute with El-Shawtra tribe, from which the group allegedly originated from.
In May, a leading tribal figure was reportedly assassinated in front of his home by masked militants in Al-Arish city in North Sinai governorate.
Abdel Hamid Saad, 45, was from El-Fawkhriya tribe. He was executed by three masked militants who drove in on a motorbike and opened fire against him for his support of army and police force operations inside the peninsula.