Foreign Ministry issues warning in wake of Egyptian conflict

The Cairo funeral of 16 Egyptian border guards killed at the town Rafah by alleged Islamic militants: photo - EPA/Khaled Elfiqi

“In connection with repeated incidents that are creating significant difficulties in getting around certain regions of Egypt, potentially jeopardizing the safety of tourists, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decidedly warns against individual or group trips beyond Egypt's tourist resorts,” the statement stresses.

The warning comes after news of air strikes on Wednesday by the Egyptian military against alleged Islamic militants in the northern Sinai peninsular.

The missile strikes, which were carried out by helicopters, follow reported attacks by militants on security checkpoints in the town of al-Arish during which several are alleged to have been injured.

On Sunday, as many as 16 Egyptian border guards were killed at the town of Rafah.

Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Ministry has applauded Egypt's stance. Israeli forces have already destroyed a vehicle carrying alleged militants that had crossed over onto Israeli territory.

The Sinai region, which is largely a desert inhabited by the Bedouin tribe with a significant Palestinian minority, became a hotbed of unrest following the dissolution of former President Hosni Mubarak's regime last year as the Arab Spring gripped Egypt.

In spite of the fact that the Sinai peninsular adjoins a stretch of the Red Sea, the Polish Foreign Ministry claims that “from the point of view of security”, trips to Egyptian resorts on the Red Sea “are possible.” (nh)