Egyptian Army Declares State of Emergency in South Sinai, Suez After Militant Islamist Attack

The Jerusalem Post reported:

CAIRO - Egypt's army announced a state of emergency in the provinces of South Sinai and Suez on Friday after Islamist gunmen attacked an airport in the Sinai town of El Arish, state newspaper Al-Ahram reported.

The report quoted the commander of the Third Field Army Osama Asakar saying that the "state of readiness" had been raised to its highest level in the two provinces due to the attack.

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The attack, the latest of a string of security incidents in the lawless region, came two days after the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. It was not clear if the attacks were coordinated and in reaction to his removal.

Egypt has closed the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip on Friday indefinitely. Gaza is controlled by the Islamist organization Hamas.