publish time

22/10/2017

author name Arab Times

publish time

22/10/2017

HH the Amir during his meeting with the Board Chairman of KUNA, Minister of Information and Editors-in-Chief of Kuwaiti newspapers.
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 21, (Agencies): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah sent Saturday a cable of condolences to the President of Egypt Abdelfattah el-Sisi over the death and injury of a number of Egyptian policemen in Wahat area in Giza.In the cable, His Highness the Amir expressed Kuwait’s deepest sympathy towards the fallen Egyptian security personnel, affirming that his country would stand in solidarity with Egypt against such heinous acts. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah extended his condolences to the families of the deceased officers and offered wishes of swift recovery for those injured in the attack. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables to the Egyptian President. At least 54 policemen, including 20 officers and 34 conscripts, were killed when a raid on a militant hideout southwest of Cairo escalated into an all-out firefight, authorities said Saturday, in one of the single deadliest attacks by militants against Egyptian security forces in recent years.The officials said the exchange of fire began late Friday in the al-Wahat al-Bahriya area in Giza province, about 135 kms (84 miles) southwest of Cairo. The firefight began when security forces acting on intelligence moved against a militants’ hideout in the area. Backed by armored personnel carriers and led by senior counterterrorism officers, the police contingent drew fire and rocket-propelled grenades, according to the officials.The officials said what happened next is not clear, but indications suggest that the force ran out of ammunition and that the militants captured several policemen and later killed them. One officer managed to escape in his armored vehicle, they added. The officials said the police force appeared to have fallen into a carefully planned ambush set up by the militants. The death toll could increase, they added, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media.