Egyptian army kills top militant leader in north Sinai

Top militant leader of Islamist group (Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdes) was killed on Friday by Egyptian army in North Sinai governorate, an army spokesman said Friday.
Shahata Farhan Khamees was killed in operations of police and security forces launched on the town of Rafah, near the border with Gaza, Spokesman Mohammad Samir said on the official Facebook page.
He added that Khamees is a militant (along with other militants) involved in launching assaults against the Armed forces and police in North Saini governorate over the past period.
Egypt said last week it had killed Mohammad Abu Shatiya, a field commander of Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdes, in clashes south of Rafah.
Sinai-based Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdes has killed hundreds of Egyptian soldiers and police over the past year and beheaded several people in recent weeks.