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Egypt pulls more tanks out of Sinai Peninsula | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) — An Egyptian security official says some 20 tanks have been withdrawn from the Sinai Peninsula after a month-long deployment in an anti-terrorism military offensive.

The tank deployment earlier this month brought complaints from Israel as the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries restricts heavy weapons in the peninsula, which borders the Jewish state.

The official said Monday that the pull-out was primarily in response to Israel concerns. He did not say how many tanks remained in the area. He spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

On Saturday, Egypt’s military vowed to keep up operations triggered by an Aug. 5 militant attack that killed 16 soldiers.

However, Sinai’s radical Islamists said that the government delegated former jihadists to negotiate a deal to stop violence.