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                IS Claims Missile Strike on Egyptian Navy Vessel

   by VOA News

   The Egyptian affiliate of the Islamic State says it has carried out a
   missile strike on an Egyptian navy vessel off North Sinai, the SITE
   intelligence group reports Thursday.

   Pictures posted online appear to show the frigate being hit by a
   rocket. The authenticity of the images could not be confirmed.

   Egyptian officials had said the the navy vessel caught fire following a
   clash with militants and that there were no fatalities among it's crew.

   ''"The [coastguard] launch crew suspected the movements of some
   terrorist elements on the coast, so it chased [them] and exchanged
   gunfire, which led to the launch catching fire without loss of life,"
   said the statement posted to Facebook.

   Egyptian military sources said the suspected militants had fled after
   firing on the vessel.

   A Reuters witness in Gaza saw a plume of dark grey smoke rising from a
   boat off the coast. Other witnesses in the Palestinian enclave said
   they heard explosions and gunfire.

   An Israeli military spokeswoman said Israel was not involved in the
   incident and had not been asked to assist.

   In November, four assailants were killed and 32 people detained when
   gunmen in a fishing boat opened fired on an Egyptian naval launch north
   of Damietta port, near the Suez Canal and west of Thursday's incident.

   Earlier this month, IS claimed responsibility for a massive terrorist
   attack on Egyptian army checkpoints on the Sinai Peninsula, killing at
   least 64 soldiers.

   One top official said the attack was "unprecedented in the number of
   terrorists involved and the types of weapons they are using," including
   rocket-propelled grenades and car bombs.

   Reuters information was used in this report.

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   n-egyptian-navy-vessel/2865068.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/islamic-state-claims-missile-strike-on-egyptian-navy-vessel/2865068.html