Part 31
By Abu Hajjar al-Kurdi
The Influence of ISIS in Egypt
In the previous sections, we examined the destructive impact of ISIS’s expansion across the Islamic world, making it clear that the group’s emergence brought nothing but hardship, turmoil, and harm to Muslims, and will never yield anything else for the broader Muslim community.
They emerged in Syria, Iraq, and dozens of other regions; yet their presence there proved to be nothing short of a plague, inflicting wounds upon the body of the Muslim ummah that remain difficult to heal. On the African continent as well, they committed crimes against fellow fighters, driving their poisoned daggers into their very hearts.
Among these cases, their emergence in Egypt, particularly in the Sinai desert, and the harm inflicted there against local fighters can never be forgotten. Here, we will shed light on the actions ISIS carried out in that region and examine the consequences of its presence.
First: The Geographical Position of the Sinai
The Sinai Peninsula is located in northeastern Egypt and is regarded as one of the most strategically sensitive regions of the Middle East
West: The Suez Canal
East: The occupied Palestinian territories (Israel) and the Gaza Strip
North: The Mediterranean Sea
South: The Red Sea (including the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez)
Key Natural Features:
An area of approximately 60,000 square kilometers
A combined landscape of open deserts, rugged mountains (particularly in the south), and sparsely populated regions
Its primary inhabitants are Bedouin tribes, who have a long history of tension and conflict with Egypt’s central government; these factors have made security control difficult and, at times, rendered the region conducive to Jihadi activity.
Second: The Expansion of ISIS in Sinai
The spread of ISIS in Sinai was the result of a combination of political, security, social, and geographical factors:
A) The Security Vacuum After 2011
Following Egypt’s 2011 revolution, the control of the central government weakened.
Security forces temporarily withdrew from Sinai, creating space for Jihadist groups to operate and expand their activities.
B) The History of Local Jihadist Groups
Prior to ISIS, groups such as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis were active in Sinai. In 2014, this organization pledged allegiance to ISIS and rebranded itself as “Wilayat Sinai” (Sinai Province).
C) Geography Conducive to Guerrilla Warfare
The mountains, vast deserts, and hidden routes enabled armed groups to conceal themselves with ease, carry out surprise attacks, and move swiftly from one area to another.
D) Sensitive and Porous Borders
Proximity to the borders of Gaza and Israel, the existence of smuggling tunnels for transferring weapons and forces (especially in earlier times), as well as illegal trade and the underground economy.
E) Discontent Among Some Local Tribes:
Feelings of economic and political marginalization, along with harsh security measures by the Egyptian government against local residents, provided ISIS an opportunity to exploit this discontent for recruiting fighters, although many tribes later cooperated with the government against ISIS.
Third: The Situation (Overall)
Around 2015, the Egyptian army launched large-scale operations and, after some time, succeeded in fully regaining control of the region.