A state of emergency came into force Saturday across much of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula after 30 soldiers were killed in a suicide car bombing by suspected militants.
It was the deadliest attack on the country's security forces since the army deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last year, to the fury of his supporters.
The state of emergency in the north and centre of the Sinai will remain in place for three months, the president's office said.
A curfew is in force from 5pm to 7am.
Egypt also announced it would close the Rafah crossing into the Gaza Strip, the only route into the Palestinian territory not controlled by Israel.
"The army and the police will take all necessary measures to tackle the dangers of terrorism and its financing, to preserve the security of the region... and protect the lives of citizens," the presidential decree said.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief who toppled Morsi and later won elections, chaired a meeting Saturday of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to discuss what measures to implement under the state of emergency.
After the meeting, Sisi told reporters that Friday's attack was carried out with "external support" in order to "break the will of the Egyptian people and army".
Security officials said a suspected militant rammed a checkpoint with an explosives-packed vehicle.
The attack in an agricultural area of El-Arish, the main town in north Sinai, also wounded 29 troops, medics said, including a senior army official and five officers.
Gunmen also shot dead an officer and wounded two soldiers on Friday at another checkpoint south of El-Arish, security officials said.
Militants in the peninsula have killed scores of policemen and soldiers since Morsi's overthrow to avenge a bloody police crackdown on his supporters.
'Tourism hit'
The attacks have dealt a further blow to a tourism industry already reeling after a 2011 uprising that overthrew long-time president Hosni Mubarak.
While south Sinai is dotted with tourist resorts on the Red Sea -- a popular destination for scuba divers -- the lawless north is a base for militants who have launched a wave of attacks, mostly targeting security forces.
The peninsula's southern coastline has been largely spared from the violence rocking the country since the 2011 revolt, partly thanks to security checkpoints in the region.
But it has not been completely untouched by the militants.
In February, a suicide bomber killed three South Korean tourists in an attack on a bus in the south Sinai resort of Taba that was claimed by Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, the most active militant group in Egypt.
After Friday's attack, Sisi announced three days of national mourning.
International condemnation
The European Union and United States both denounced the latest attack.
"A prosperous and dynamic Egypt requires an environment of security and stability," the State Department said.
It was the latest in a string of bloody attacks against security forces in Egypt.
In August 2013, just weeks after the army ousted Morsi, 25 soldiers were killed in the Sinai when gunmen opened fire at two buses transporting troops with automatic rifles and rocket launchers.
In July this year, 22 border guards were killed in the western desert near the border with Libya.
From the desert and mountainous Sinai, which borders the Gaza Strip and Israel, the attacks have also extended to the capital and the Nile Delta to the north.
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis tried to assassinate the interior minister in Cairo last year with a car bomb.
The group has expressed support for Islamic State (IS) group militants in Iraq and Syria, although it has not formally pledged its allegiance.
While militants have been killed or arrested, the army has been unable so far to crush them despite a massive operation in which it has deployed attack helicopters and tanks.
The latest bombing came after an Egyptian military court sentenced to death seven members of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis on Tuesday for deadly attacks on the army.
Since Morsi's ouster, more than 1,400 of his supporters have been killed in a crackdown by the authorities. More than 15,000 others have been jailed, including Morsi, and over 200 sentenced to death.
AFP
Sun Oct 26 2014
A handout picture released on October 25, 2014 by the Egyptian Presidency, shows Egyptian family members grieving during the funeral for 30 solders killed the day before in the Sinai Peninsula. - AFP Photo/Ho/ Egyptian Presidency
18 kecederaan, parut pada Bella bukan rekaan saksi - Hakim
Hakim berkata, perkara itu dibuktikan oleh saksi-saksi perubatan bahawa kecederaan dialami Bella, bukan kemalangan atau perbuatan mangsa sendiri.
Letusan terakhir 22 tahun lalu
Semua penduduk dinasihatkan untuk memakai pelitup muka kerana debu dan asap dari letusan gunung berapi mampu mengganggu saluran pernafasan.
UNRWA bimbang berlaku penyebaran penyakit di Gaza
Agensi Bantuan dan Kerja Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu bagi Pelarian Palestin (UNRWA) menyatakan wujud kebimbangan penyebaran penyakit akibat serangan tanpa henti rejim Zionis di Gaza.
Ops Rentap Trio tumpas geng ragut tumpu lokasi pelancongan
Lima rakan yang menjadi dalang 45 kes samun, ragut dan curi motosikal ditahan melalui beberapa serbuan.
Bella masih trauma dianiaya, diabai Siti Bainun - Peguam
Bella masih trauma dianiaya, diabai Siti Bainun - Peguam
'Game changer' akan diumum dalam masa terdekat - KDN
Saifuddin menambah masih banyak ruang yang boleh ditambah baik di pintu-pintu masuk negara khususnya untuk menerima kedatangan para pelancong.
JAKIM buka talian khas terima aduan hina Islam
Jabatan Kemajuan Islam (JAKIM) telah mewujudkan talian khas 24 jam sebagai platform untuk menyalurkan aduan berkaitan isu penghinaan terhadap agama Islam termasuk yang dicetuskan menerusi laman media sosial.
KPM giat atasi isu dibangkitkan laporan bank dunia
Kementerian Pendidikan telah mengambil beberapa langkah untuk mereformasi sistem pendidikan negara, lebih awal daripada laporan Bank Dunia yang menekankan. kekurangannya.
[TERKINI] Tengku Zafrul gagal failkan afidavit kes pengampunan Najib
Menteri Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz gagal untuk memfailkan afidavit berhubung Titah Adendum berhubung kes pengampunan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Polis tahan lapan aktif ragut, samun sasar kawasan tumpuan pelancong
Lapan individu ditahan kerana disyaki terlibat dalam 45 kes melibatkan ragut, samun dan curi motosikal di sekitar ibu negara, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor dan Melaka.
Ebit Liew masuk Gaza hari ini, serah dua treler ubat dan keperluan asas kepada rakyat Palestin
Ebit Lew mengakui air matanya tidak dapat dibendung lagi usia mengaminkan doa sejurus bantuan disampaikan.
Konflik di Gaza: Angka korban rakyat Palestin meningkat kepada 30
Serangan udara oleh Israel berterusan manakala Hamas membalas dengan menembak roket ke Tel Aviv.
Bandar hilang berusia 3,000 tahun ditemui di Mesir
Kawasan yang ditemui menerusi satu misi arkeologi itu lengkap dengan tinggalan struktur rumah yang diperbuat daripada tanah liat, serta artifak-artifak bersejarah dan alatan dari zaman firaun.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita dalam negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini, Ahad, 2 Ogos 2020.
COVID-19: Rayuan kecualikan caj kuarantin pelajar Malaysia dari Yaman - YPC
Muhyiddin dirayu agar segera campur tangan mengatasi masalah caj kuarantin yang difahamkan dikenakan sebanyak RM1,890 ke atas pelajar Malaysia yang baru pulang dari Yaman pada pagi Ahad.
131 rakyat Malaysia terkandas di Yaman tiba di tanah air - Wisma Putra
Kumpulan pertama rakyat Malaysia seramai 131 orang yang dilaporkan terkandas di Yaman sejak Mac lepas susulan pandemik COVID-19, selamat tiba di KLIA pada pagi Ahad.
Pelakon 'Twilight' meninggal dunia
Mendiang Boyce dijumpai bersama mayat teman wanitanya Natalie Adepoju, 27, di Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sampai berdarah hidung mahu jumpa Mo Salah
Dalam kekecohan itu, dia terlanggar tiang lampu lalu rebah terbaring dalam keadaan tidak sedar.
Laungan 'Laillahaillallah, As-Syahid Habibullah' iringi jenazah Dr Fadi
Laungan -Laillahaillallah, as-Syahid Habibullah- berkumandang di Surau Medan Idaman, Setapak, tatkala jenazah Imam Dr Fadi Al-Batsh dibawa masuk ke perkarangan surau itu.
Lebih 1,000 lagi pelajar dibawa pulang sebelum Jumaat
Seramai 1,328 pelajar selamat dihantar pulang menerusi Ops Piramid 2 setakat hari ini.