EL-ARISH, Egypt -- Two senior Egyptian army officials say the military is deploying troops as part of an imminent operation against Al Qaeda-inspired militants in the Sinai peninsula.
The officials say thousands of troops backed by armored vehicles and commandos Friday moved into the northern Sinai city of el-Arish.
The officials say the operation aims to uproot extremists in the cities of Rafah and Sheikh Zawiyed and other pockets in central Sinai area.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to brief the press.
Al Qaeda-inspired Islamist militants in Egypt have been increasingly active since the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak in February.
They have stormed police stations in el-Arish, sabotaged gas pipelines and declared plans to impose Islamic rule in Sinai.
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