Sinai gunmen die in air strike

Eight Islamist militants were killed by an Israeli air force strike after they attacked an Egyptian border checkpoint on the Sinai Peninsula, it was reported today.

Sixteen Egyptian soldiers were killed yesterday when militants opened fire as the troops ate the traditional meal at the end of the daily fast during Ramadan.

The Islamist group then stole vehicles to burst through a security fence into Israel. But Israeli intelligence had reports of an impending attack and sent aircraft to strike at the car the militants had seized, said Brigadier General Yoav Mordechai. He added: “We were prepared for it, so there was a hit.”

Egyptian troops have become targets of militants in the desert along the Egypt-Israel border. Sinai has become increasingly chaotic since Egypt’s president Hosni Mubarak was toppled last year. Israel says al Qaeda operatives have infiltrated the area, as well as Palestinian militants who have crossed over from Gaza.