quadron 161 (“The Black Snake”) marks its reopening as the only “Zik” Squadron (Hermes 450) in the UAV, absorbing all the “Zik” aircraft from Squadron 166 (“Firebirds”). Taken on 6 December 2020 by Amit Agronov. Source: the Israeli Defense Forces.
A Palestinian fighter from the Gaza Strip has been reportedly killed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula under suspicious circumstances.
The death of the fighter, Basel Khaled Eid, was first reported by Palestinian and Egyptian news sources on August 20. Eid, who was also known as al-Zamili, was reportedly a resident of the Nuseirat Camp in central Gaza.
Palestinian sources said that Eid, who allegely left Gaza to joint ISIS in Sinai in 2016, was killed in an Israeli drone strike.
Over the last few years, there have been much reports about Israeli drone operations against ISIS cells in Sinai. Despite the presence of some evidence, including the wreckage of an Israeli drone munition that was showcased by the terrorist group in 2015, Egypt continues to deny any Israeli involvement in its counter-terrorism efforts in Sinai.
Alleged Palestinian fighter Basel Khaled Eid. Via Twitter.
Egyptian sources denied the Palestinian reports about an Israeli drone strike on Sinai, claiming that Eid was killed in clashes with the Palestinian Hamas Movement near the border line with Gaza. Hamas is yet to confirm or deny these claims.
With the presence of a highly-capable air force in Egypt, it is highly unlikely that Israeli drones are conducting combat operations over Sinai. In the past, many Egyptian airstrikes on ISIS terrorists in the peninsula were falsely attributed to Israeli.
Israel may be indeed responsible for targeting ISIS terrorists, but only on the Palestinian side of the border. This would explain the little evidence ISIS and other sources used to justify their claims of Israeli drone strikes on Sinai over the last few years.
ISIS has been waging an insurgency in Sinai since 2014. In the last few months, the terrorist group’s cells stepped up their attacks on Egyptian government forces and pro-government tribesmen.
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