Share

US condemns attack on Egyptian soldiers

Washington - The United States on Monday condemned a weekend attack on an Egyptian border checkpoint which left 21 soldiers dead, and vowed to keep up support for Egypt's security.

"We extend our condolences to the families of the victims, and hope for the quick and full recovery of the wounded," deputy State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said in a statement on the attack, which took place near Egypt's desert frontier with restive Libya.

"A prosperous and dynamic Egypt requires an environment of security and stability, and the United States continues to support the Egyptian government's efforts to counter the threat of terrorism in Egypt as part of our commitment to the strategic partnership between our two countries."

The Egyptian military said militants firing machineguns and rocket-propelled grenades attacked a border checkpoint on Saturday, killing 21 soldiers in one of the biggest assaults on security forces in years.

The attack in a desert area 630km west of Cairo also left four soldiers wounded, the military said in a statement, blaming "terrorists".

Militants have stepped up attacks on the security forces since Islamist president Mohammed Morsi was toppled in July 2013 as the army struggles to quell an Islamist insurgency that has killed scores of soldiers and police, mainly in the Sinai Peninsula bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

Harf's statement came just after US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Cairo on a delicate mission to broker a truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 285 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 402 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
19.00
-0.5%
Rand - Pound
24.02
-0.5%
Rand - Euro
20.53
-0.3%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.37
-0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.6%
Platinum
904.37
+0.8%
Palladium
1,014.65
+1.3%
Gold
2,205.79
+0.5%
Silver
24.61
-0.1%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,281
+0.9%
All Share
74,458
+0.7%
Resource 10
57,014
+2.4%
Industrial 25
103,960
+0.7%
Financial 15
16,486
-0.2%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE