Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Sinai Province
| Sinai Province | |
|---|---|
| Wilayah Sayna Participant in the War on Terror, the Sinai insurgency |
|
The Black Standard of ISIL.
|
|
| Active | 13 November 2014–present |
| Ideology | Salafism Salafi jihadism Wahhabism |
| Leaders | Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Leader of ISIL) Abu Osama al-Masri[1] |
| Headquarters | Sinai Peninsula |
| Area of operations | Egypt |
| Strength | 1,000–1,500[2] |
| Part of | |
| Originated as | Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis |
| Opponents | |
| Battles and wars | Sinai insurgency |
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - Sinai Province (ISIL-SP,[3] Wilayah Sayna) is a branch of the Salafi jihadist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), active in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. The group was formed on 13 November 2014 following Sinai-based Ansar Bait al-Maqdis (ABM) pledge of allegiance to ISIL.[2][4]
Background[edit]
During 2014, Ansar Bait al-Maqdis sent emissaries to ISIL in Syria to seek financial support, weapons and tactical advice.[5] On 10 November 2014, many members of ABM took an oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIL.[6][7] It adopted the name Sinai Province and has since carried out attacks, mostly in North Sinai, but also in other parts of Egypt.[2] While the group has killed hundreds of Egyptian security personnel, it has also been responsible for attacks on civilians, including the killing of Croatian Engineer Tomislav Salopek.[8]
On 1 July 2015, the group launched a large scale assault in and around the Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid, eventually being driven back by Egyptian security forces after at least 100 militants and 17 soldiers were killed in the fighting.[9] According to Brian Fishman of the New America Foundation, the tactics used by the attackers - suicide bombers backed up by direct and indirect fire, mortar fire in combination with small arms, and simultaneous assaults in multiple locations — suggested a transfer of knowledge from ISIL fighters in Iraq and Syria.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ "Islamic State's Egypt affiliate urges attacks on judges - recording". Reuters UK. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
- ^ a b c "Sinai Province: Egypt's most dangerous group". BBC News. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
- ^ "Designations of Foreign Terrorist Fighters". State.gov. 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
- ^ "Islamic State leader urges attacks in Saudi Arabia: speech". Reuters. 13 November 2014.
- ^ "Islamic State Sprouting Limbs Beyond Its Base". The New York Times. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ "Militant Group in Egypt Vows Loyalty to ISIS". New York Times. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ "Egypt jihadists vow loyalty to IS as Iraq probes leader's fate". AFP. 10 November 2014.
- ^ Loveluck, Louisa (2015-08-12). "Isil claim to have beheaded Croatian hostage in Egypt". Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
- ^ "Islamic State attack in Egypt's North Sinai kills more than 100". Reuters. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- ^ "Jihadist Attacks on Egypt Grow Fiercer". The New York Times. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2015-10-02.