Suspected Islamist terrorists on Saturday gunned down a senior Egyptian army officer near his home in an eastern Cairo suburb, two security officials told The Associated Press (AP).
The officials identified the victim as Brig-Gen. Adel Ragai, commander of the army's 9th armored division, which is headquartered in the sprawling military base of Dahshour west of Cairo.
They added that Ragai recently served in the restive north of the Sinai Peninsula, where Egypt has been fighting an Islamist insurgency since 2011.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The cabinet denounced the attack in a statement, quoting Prime Minister Sherif Ismail as saying such attacks only strengthened the resolve of security forces to defeat the militants. The statement did not name the victim.
Most of the terrorist attacks in the Sinai have been claimed by the Sinai Province terrorist group, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS). READ MORE
