Daily Mail: Terror on the high seas: Egyptian navy vessel erupts in huge fireball as ISIS carry out rocket strike on patrol ship in the Mediterranean
* Patrol ship spotted ISIS jihadis on the Sinai shoreline and fired at them
* The group of Islamic extremists returned fire using high-powered rockets
* At least one of the rockets struck the ship, causing it to burst into flames
* Several patrol workers suffered burn injuries, but there were no fatalities
Extremists loyal to the Islamic State in Egypt have attacked a naval patrol ship in the Mediterranean Sea, causing it to burst into flames.
The Egyptian military said earlier a coastguard vessel had exchanged shots with militants just two miles off the coast of northern Sinai, an area bordering Israel and the Gaza Strip.
There were no fatalities among the vessel's crew in the shootout with the terrorists, according to a Facebook message posted by military spokesman, Brigadier General Mohammed Samir.
ISIS declared their presence on Sinai - a peninsula popular with British holidaymakers - last November when up to 2,000 members of the already established jihadi group Ansar Bait al-Maqdis swore allegiance to ISIS' leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
WNU Editor: If they can hit a naval warship in the Mediterranean, they can hit a vessel using the Suez canal. If the Suez canal should ever be closed down because of militant strikes and.or the sinking of ships in the Suez canal .... the economic impact will be immediate and global.
More News On Today's Islamic State Attack On An Egyptian Naval Patrol Ship
Three stunning photos that show a suspected Islamic State attack on an Egyptian warship -- Washington Post
Egypt navy ship 'hit by Sinai militants' missile' -- BBC
Egyptian Navy Vessel Targeted by Militants Off Sinai's Coast -- NYT/AP
IS claims missile attack on Egypt navy boat -- AFP
Islamic State says it launched rocket attack on Egypt navy vessel -- Reuters
Isis affiliate claims responsibility for rocket attack on Egyptian navy ship -- The Guardian
Islamic State claims rocket attack on Egypt navy vessel left ablaze after shootout -- The Telegraph
ISIL claims rocket attack on Egypt navy boat in Mediterranean Sea -- Euronews
Islamic State affiliate Sinai Province claims attack on Egypt navy vessel -- Sydney Morning Herald
UPDATED: Egypt's Islamic State affiliate claims rocket attack on naval boat -- Ahram Online
7 comments:
It's coming.
The situation is not as bad as it looks at first. I know I always say this, but the details make me to do so.
The ship (patrol) was 2 miles away from the coast. IS forces (or IS linked local forces) probably used an ATGM rocket, that set the ship on fire. It's not an anti-ship missile, not even close to anything like it, just a regular, relative short range ATGM rocket. Most popular rockets are (like Konkurs, Metis, Milan) have limited fire range to 3-5 km, and only some newer variant (like the Kornet) has 10km fire range. In this range they could hit ships, because such weapons are easy to use, aim, and hit slowly moving, predictable, large targets.
But this requrie the control of coastal areas, which I doubt they will have if the Egyiptian army send more units to this area. They also need more rocket, which are harder to get than AKs or RPGs, and more expensive. Also to hit anything they need to be in range. Gulf of Suez width is 15-20km at the two thinner part, the rest is wider. upt to 30+km. I have my doubt that with increased Egyiptian military activities in the area IS related groups could hit any commercial or other ship in the Suez route. The Canal of Suez is different than the Gulf, it's could be cut off a lot easier, but it's "off coast" area, and with it's ~300m width ATGM rockets will be the last danger for them.
Also the reports says this hit happened in Rafah area, which is on the north side of Shina peninsula, so currently it not effecting Suez. It's would be good if we could get a clear view on IS related group activities happen in Egyipt, but covering this slow insurgency is lack on media.
I agree mlacix on the news coverage of this conflict. The only media in the area is the Egyptian media .... and I have trouble trusting them.
Reports say the ship was sunk.
And then some I suspect.
The Egyptian media and government is keeping this under wraps. That in itself tells me volumes.
other point of view about this attack https://www.patriotdirect.org/egyptian-patrol-vessel-erupts-in-huge-fireball/
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