Egyptian Army: Two Officers Killed During Campaign to Combat Illegal Gold Mining

Al-Taj News – The military spokesman for the Egyptian Armed Forces confirmed that all strikes carried out by the forces during the campaign against illegal gold ore prospecting took place inside Egyptian territory, emphasizing that the operations did not target civilians, and resulted in the killing of two officers during the clashes.

The army’s military spokesman announced, on Thursday, the arrest of 151 Egyptians and 540 foreigners, as part of the major campaign to confront illegal gold prospecting in the Eastern Desert, which has been carried out across three phases so far.

He pointed out that the operations included targeting weapons and ammunition depots belonging to criminal elements using armed drones, based on accurate information and coordinates, confirming that the Armed Forces issued warning messages prior to executing the operations, and provided elements present in the prospecting areas an opportunity to surrender voluntarily.

He stated that the Armed Forces are coordinating with the Sudanese side regarding border security, and that all operations to confront illegal gold prospecting were executed within Egyptian borders, emphasizing that no civilians were targeted during the campaign, and underscoring adherence to the rules of engagement and conventions of international law.