Egypt's Ansar militants swear allegience to Islamic State
Sinai terror group has sought inspiration and advice from Islamic State in the past; statement comes as Egypt seeks partners to help it fight Islamist terror.
CAIRO - Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, Egypt's most active militant group, has sworn allegiance to Islamic State, a statement from Ansar said Monday night.
Ansar had previously told Reuters that it sought inspiration and advice from Islamic State, the radical al-Qaeda offshoot that has taken over swathes of Iraq and Syria, drawing US-led airstrikes as it tries to remake the map of the Middle East.
"After entrusting God we decided to swear allegiance to the emir of the faithful Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, caliph of the Muslims in Syria and Iraq and in other countries," the statement said.
Related stories:
- Egyptian army suffers deadliest attack in decades
- Egypt, Gulf Arab allies eye alliance against Islamist extremism
- Bombing targets troops near Egypt-Gaza border
The statement came amid an AP report that Egypt and its allies in the Gulf - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait - were discussing the creation of a military pact to take on Islamic militants, with the possibility of a joint force to intervene around the Middle East.
The alliance would also serve as a show of strength to counterbalance their traditional rival, Shiite-dominated, Iran. Two countries are seen as potential theaters for the alliance to act, senior Egyptian military officials said: Libya, where Islamic militants have taken over several cities, and Yemen, where Shiite rebels suspected of links to Iran have seized control of the capital.
Egyptian security forces face a jihadist insurgency that has killed hundreds of soldiers and policemen since the army toppled President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood last year after mass protests against his rule.
Last week the government declared a three-month state of emergency in parts of North Sinai following attacks that killed at least 33 security personnel in some of the worst anti-state violence since Morsi's ouster.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but similar previous operations have been claimed by Ansar.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
