On Monday at dawn, a group of gunmen detonated an explosive on the Egyptian pipeline, which provides Israel and Jordan with gas. The explosion took place just hours before Egypt’s first legislative elections since Hosni Mubarak was ousted in the revolution earlier this year.The official Egyptian Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported that masked gunmen planted and detonated the explosives targeting the pipeline in a location west of Al Arish, in the north of the Sinai Peninsula.
An Egyptian security official told France Press that, only seconds after the first blast, another explosion took place, hitting the pipeline 100 meters away.
Eyewitnesses reported that they saw the assailants fleeing the scene by car a few minutes after the two blasts took place.
Fire-fighters and rescue teams rushed to the scene of the blast; no injuries were reported.
This is the ninth attack of its kind this year; the first attack took place during the revolution against the former Egyptian leader, Hosni Mubarak, and his oppressive regime. The most recent attack before this one took place last Friday, November 25.
Egypt provides Israel with 43% of its natural gas resources enabling Tel Aviv to generate 40% of its electricity needs. As part of an Egyptian-Israeli deal, signed 20 years ago, during the rule of Mubarak, Egypt provides Israel with natural gas with exceptionally low prices.
