Egypt Deploys Troops Against Al Qaeda-Inspired Militants
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.