Egypt’s Interior Ministry has thwarted a planned terrorist attack by the outlawed Hasm movement, an armed affiliate of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, raising renewed alarm over the country’s porous borders with Libya, Sudan, and Gaza. In a recent operation, Egyptian security forces killed several militants, including a highly trained operative who had received advanced military training in Libya and lived in Sudan before illegally infiltrating Egypt. The suspect was reportedly preparing to carry out sabotage activities against economic and security installations.
Intelligence reports indicated that Hasm’s leadership, operating from Türkiye, has been attempting to revive its militant network. A video posted online two weeks ago—featuring masked gunmen conducting live-fire drills in a desert setting—fueled concerns, prompting a swift crackdown. While some footage was identified as old, parts were confirmed to be recent clips from Libya, leading to intensified tracking efforts.
The raid, met with heavy gunfire from the militants, resulted in the deaths of the suspects. Tragically, a civilian passerby also lost his life, and a police officer sustained injuries during a rescue attempt. Former Interior Ministry spokesperson Gen. Hany Abdel Latif praised the successful operation but emphasized the persistent threat of terrorism. He warned that extremist groups like Hasm, though weakened, retain the ability to regroup and strike again.
Egypt’s border regions remain a critical vulnerability, with extremists exploiting weak points to plan cross-border attacks. Authorities stress the need for ongoing vigilance and international cooperation to maintain national and regional security.
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