According to SITE Intel Group, the Islamic State of Iraq also known as ISIS has claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on an Egyptian naval ship.
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Despite recurring reports of human rights violations, Egypt is a major recipient of assistance from the USA government, with $1.3 billion allocated for fiscal year 2015.
The group, which calls itself the State of Sinai, released several photos that appeared to show a projectile flying toward and then striking a military ship, causing a huge explosion. The authenticity of the claim could not be independently verified, though it was carried by Twitter accounts affiliated with the group.
A statement believed to be from the group, which is based in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, claimed it used a “guided missile” to target the ship near Rafah, on the border with Gaza.
A witness, fisherman Abu Ibrahim Mohammed from the neighboring Gaza Strip, said the vessel targeted Thursday was a gunboat that was about a nautical mile off the coast when it caught fire.
Witnesses said they saw other naval boats rushing to the scene to rescue those on board the burning vessel.
In a separate development, Egypt’s interior minister, who is in charge of security, on Thursday fired the Egyptian capital’s security chief – Maj.
“Interior Minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar ordered the removal of Cairo police chief General Osama Bedair, and assigned General Khalid Abdel Aal to replace him”, the statement said.
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Beder will be replaced by Maj. ISIS also claimed a bomb attack in front of Cairo’s Italian consulate which killed one person. An Egyptian was killed in the early morning blast that rocked much of the city of some 18 million people. It is estimated that about 100 militants were killed during the fighting.
