Insurgency intensified in al-Arish area in N Sinai: Islamic State (IS) claimed attack on police station 9 Jan that killed at least seven police and one civilian; insurgents same day detonated lorry bomb at checkpoint killing at least seven police and one civilian, security forces killed five militants in ensuing gunfight; security forces 13 Jan reportedly killed at least ten IS-linked militants in raids; army 28 Jan said four soldiers and twenty insurgents allegedly linked to IS killed in five-day operation. Gunmen 22 Jan ambushed army convoy in Sinai, killing five soldiers. In al-Wadi al-Jadid governorate in south, gunmen 16 Jan killed eight police in attack on checkpoint, two attackers killed. In Abshway, 120km south of Cairo, gunmen 3 Jan killed policeman. Supreme Administrative Court 16 Jan denied President Sisi authority to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

Suicide bombing claimed by Islamic State (IS) at Cairo’s Coptic cathedral 11 Dec killed 25 people, wounded 49. Bombing claimed by Islamist militant group Hasm in Cairo 9 Dec killed six police. Bombing in Kafr el-Sheikh governorate in Nile Delta (north) same day killed civilian, injured three police. Prominent Islamist fighter Adel Habara, sentenced to death in 2014 for killing 25 soldiers in N Sinai in 2013, executed 15 Dec despite militant threats to ignite “volcano of jihad”. Supreme Constitutional Court 3 Dec upheld law banning protests. Govt 15 Dec said traces of explosives detected on bodies retrieved from EgyptAir flight that crashed in May 2016. In Sinai, armed forces 6 Dec said they killed eight IS-affiliated “Sinai Province” militants during large-scale security sweep in Sheikh Zuweid, Rafah and al-Arish.

Islamic State (IS) continued attacks on military and civilians in Sinai Peninsula provoking military response. Suspected militants reportedly killed seventeen soldiers including one general, one police officer and two civilians during month. IS-affiliate Sinai Province (SP) mid-Nov said it had beheaded Sufi sheikh and top cleric. Army reportedly killed over 90 suspected militants in N Sinai during month. Highest court of appeal 15 Nov overturned death sentence of former President Morsi, ordered retrial on charge of escaping prison in 2011; 22 Nov overturned his life sentence and that of fifteen other Muslim Brotherhood officials, ordered retrial on charge of espionage. Judge who tried Morsi in 2015 reportedly survived attempted killing 4 Nov. Govt 28 Nov appealed June court ruling that annulled transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. Central Bank 3 Nov floated currency allowing devaluation against dollar fulfilling requirement for IMF bailout; IMF 11 Nov approved $12bn loan to govt.

Islamic State (IS)-related violence intensified in Sinai peninsula. Suspected members of IS-affiliate Sinai Province (SP) 14 Oct killed twelve soldiers in attack on checkpoint near Bir al-Abd, central Sinai; army said fifteen attackers also killed. Army 16 Oct announced new campaign against IS militants in Sinai: at least nineteen suspected militants and one soldier killed 17 Oct; six insurgents killed 18 Oct. Roadside bomb 18 Oct killed two policemen in Sheikh Zuweid. IED killed two policemen near al-Arish 21 Oct. Head of army division operating in N Sinai, Brigadier General Adel Ragaai, shot dead outside his Cairo home 22 Oct; little-known armed group Liwa al-Thawra claimed attack, govt said Muslim Brotherhood responsible. Roadside explosion 29 Oct killed senior military officer and soldier in N Sinai. Army 30 Oct said four soldiers and six militants killed in anti-IS operation around al-Arish. Car bomb injured three police and three civilians 30 Oct in al-Arish. Six inmates including Islamist militants 20 Oct broke out of prison in Ismailia in NE killing civilian and senior police officer; prosecutors 23 Oct ordered detention of fourteen policemen pending further investigation for alleged negligence and complicity.

Islamic State militants continued attacks in Sinai peninsula. Attack 1 Sept killed at least two soldiers and injured five. Soldier died in clashes between security personnel and militants near Rafah 20 Sept. IED attack on army vehicle near El-Hasna same day killed one soldier and injured another. Govt 22 Sept said unidentified gunmen shot dead policeman and injured two others near al-Arish police station. Unidentified gunmen 28 Sept shot at minibus in al-Arish, killing three policemen and driver. Amid surge in migrants trying to reach Europe from Egypt, govt said at least 202 drowned when boat capsized off Egyptian coast 21 Sept, 22 Sept said security forces arrested four suspected people smugglers.

Military 4 Aug said it had killed Abu Duaa al-Ansari, leader of Islamic State-affiliate Sinai Province (SP), in al-Arish, N Sinai; group 18 Aug confirmed death, announced Sheikh Abdullah as new leader. Suspected SP militants continued to attack civilians and security personnel in al-Arish area: three IED attacks killed four civilians, injured four civilians and at least eleven police; sniper 22 Aug shot dead security officer; unidentified militants 23 Aug shot dead army officer and police. Govt 11 Aug announced $12bn agreement with IMF to support implementation of economic reforms.

Violence continued in al-Arish area in N Sinai: Islamic State (IS)-affiliated group Sinai Province 13 July killed army conscript at checkpoint south of Sheikh Zuweid; residents 13 July said improvised explosive device (IED) killed three army conscripts, injured twelve; Sinai province fighters 15 July shot dead police officer; unidentified gunman 24 July shot dead police officer in attack claimed by IS. Air force 31 July reportedly struck IS ammunition depot in Rafah, N Sinai killing 46 militants. President Sisi 12 July extended state of emergency in N Sinai for three months starting 29 July. Amnesty International 13 July accused National Security Agency of “abducting, torturing and forcibly disappearing people [to] wipe out peaceful dissent”. Italian parliament ‎‎7 July decided not to supply Egypt with military ‎equipment following govt’s failure to cooperate in investigation into murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni in ‎Cairo in Jan.‎

State Council court 21 June overruled President Sisi’s decision to hand over two Gulf of Aqaba islands to Saudi Arabia on grounds that sovereignty over islands cannot be amended; govt appealed. Violence continued in N Sinai. Roadside bomb killed policeman 19 June; gunmen stormed police homes in al-Arish area, killing four police 16-21 June. Suspected Islamist militants 11 June killed three civilians, allegedly for cooperating with army. Army 2 June said it had killed 22 suspected militants, arrested five; 15 June killed 35 suspected militants. Islamic State 30 June claimed responsibility for killing Christian priest in N Sinai. Court 18 June confirmed 7 May death sentence for six people, including three journalists tried in absentia, for leaking state secrets to Qatar, and former President Morsi’s life sentence for membership of Muslim Brotherhood.

EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo crashed in Mediterranean Sea 19 May, all 66 on board believed dead; investigators have not ruled out terror attack. President Sisi 4 May extended state of emergency in N Sinai for three months: roadside bomb in N Sinai 21 May killed three soldiers; army 25 May said at least 85 militants killed in previous four days in Sinai. Gunmen 8 May killed eight police in Helwan district, S Cairo; both Islamic State (IS) and revolutionary Islamist movement Popular Resistance claimed responsibility, fight between local police and Bedouins also reported as possible cause of attack. Court 14 May sentenced prominent activist Sanaa Seif to six months’ jail for insulting judiciary. Another court 15 May sentenced to up to five years’ prison over 150 people of at least 1,200 who 25 April protested against Sisi’s rule and return of islands in Gulf of Aqaba to Saudi Arabia. Opposition remains in disarray; Social Democratic Party threatened to splinter after founder resigned early May. Court 30 May sentenced Muslim Brotherhood’s supreme guide and 35 other people to life in prison for “inciting violence” in north in 2013.

Italy 8 April withdrew ambassador to protest authorities’ lack of collaboration investigating killing of Italian student Giulio Regeni whose body was found Feb with signs of torture, urged other EU members to press Egypt on case. Reuters 21 April reported that security services had detained Regeni 25 Jan, contradicting previous denial by Egyptian officials that he had been in custody. Saudi King Salman, French President Hollande, U.S. Sec State Kerry and others visited during month, pledged security support. Govt’s 9 April announcement that it would hand over to Saudi Arabia two strategic Red Sea islands as kingdom pledged $20bn aid and investment package sparked public indignation; demonstrators 15 April called for “downfall of regime” in largest protests since 2013, authorities 25 April dispersed crowds with teargas. Lawyers 23 April said dozens of anti-govt activists arrested since 21 April. Violence in Sinai continued: at least six soldiers and one civilian killed 7 April in two roadside bomb blasts, Islamic State claimed responsibility; four soldiers killed in ambush 9 April.