Egypt destroys 120 smuggling tunnels

Egyptian security sources have reported destroying 120 smuggling tunnels on the border with Gaza since the start of the military's “Nisr” campaign (Operation Eagle) in the volatile Sinai peninsula. "Demolitions have continued on a daily basis and will continue until all border tunnels are destroyed. Twelve were demolished in the last two days alone," said the source. The operations, led by military engineers, have reportedly extended to the Salah El Din area, after finishing work north of the Rafah border crossing. The source ruled out that Egypt forces used explosives as it was known to in the past, for fears of landslides due to the loose soil in the tunnels. Any major disturbance would threaten the houses of the people living on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The tunnels are concentrated in an area less then 4km long on the border between Egypt and Gaza, the regions of the Unknown Soldier and Salah al-Din, which have high population densities. Security agencies have warned citizens who own houses and farms in the tunnels to stop all smuggling activities there, and asked them to help their demolition. those who do not comply will apparently be vulnerable to legal prosecution. There were about seven empty houses with smuggling tunnels underneath because of the lack of response from owners upon being informed about the tunnels. The Egyptian authorities said that among the tunnels that were destroyed, two big tunnels were used to smuggle cars. The process of demolition is carried out amid an escort of armoured vehicles and Egyptian soldiers.The military sent in tanks and soldiers into the lawless peninsula which neighbours both Gaza and Israel after gunmen killed 16 soldiers in an attack on an army outpost on August 5. Egypt is also searching for 120 wanted militants and believes around 1,600 extremists, including foreigners, are hiding out in the Sinai, the official MENA news agency reported Wednesday. Militants wounded three Egyptian policemen in the Sinai last week in an ambush of their vehicle with a rocket propelled grenade, a security official said. The government has long struggled with militancy and smuggling in the region but unrest has worsened since an uprising overthrew veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak in February last year, prompting the collapse of his discredited police force.