Egypt army destroys 13 more Gaza tunnels

Egypt army destroys 13 more Gaza tunnels

FILE - In this file photo taken July 9, 2014, Israeli missiles hit smuggling tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. Israel says its punishing air assault
on Hamas militants, their property and their weaponry has delivered a devastating blow to the Islamic militant group. Yet rocket fire at Israel has continued almost unabated. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali, File)

Israel launches military offensive in Gaza Strip

19 days ago

There's been a surge in rocket attacks from Gaza following the kidnapping and murder of three Jewish teenagers last month. Israel said its new offensive is targeting terrorists, hitting sites used by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza. Holly Williams reports.

ISRAEL STEPS UP GROUND INVASION

9 days ago

Israeli troops are pushing deeper into the Gaza Strip on a mission to destroy a network of tunnels. Israel says the tunnels are being used by Hamas militants to build rockets and stage attacks.

Gas deployed by the Israeli army gushes out of a hole in a tunnel during an operation just outside the Gaza Strip

5 days ago

Gas deployed by the Israeli army gushes out of a hole in a tunnel, which was used by Hamas militants in an attack on July 21, during an operation to search for tunnels dug by the Palestinian militants, just outside the Gaza Strip July 22, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Cairo (AFP) - Egypt's army said Sunday it has destroyed 13 more tunnels connecting the Sinai Peninsula to the Gaza Strip, taking to 1,639 the overall number it has laid waste to.

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Cairo has poured troops into the peninsula to counter a rising insurgency since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last year, and its security operation involves the destruction of these tunnels.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is the main power in Gaza, reportedly uses the tunnels to smuggle arms, food and money into the blockaded coastal enclave.

Israel has been waging a military offensive on Gaza since July 8 to halt rocket fire, and it launched a ground assault on July 17 aimed at destroying the network of tunnels.

It accuses Hamas of using the tunnels to attacks on Israel.

Ties between Hamas and Cairo have deteriorated since the Egyptian army deposed Morsi on July 3, 2013. Hamas is an affiliate of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.

Cairo also accuses of Hamas of being involved in militant attacks inside Egypt, which have multiplied since Morsi was toppled.

Militant groups say their attacks are in retaliation for a police crackdown on Morsi's supporters. The crackdown has seen more than 1,400 people killed in street clashes.