IS-linked group claims responsibility for Sinai pipeline explosion

The Islamic State’s Sinai ally Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (ABM) has claimed responsibility for attacks on 24 October killing at least 30 Egyptian soldiers and the bombing of a gas pipeline between Egypt and Jordan.

In a video posted via twitter over the weekend, a spokesman for the group, said that the IS-allied militants would continue the fight against the Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, the Egyptian army and its collaborators.

On 25 October, the Egyptian government declared a three-month state of emergency in North Sinai, after the security personnel were killed in two bombings. Egypt also launched a plan to create a buffer zone on its borders with Gaza to eliminate further attacks. 

There has been no official response from the Egyptian authorities on the video.

ABM pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) on 10 November via a video it posted via social media.

In the 9 minute 26 second recording, a man identifying himself as from the group’s “information department” said ABM had given its loyalty to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

"We announce our pledge of allegiance to the caliph Ibrahim Ibn Awad […] to listen and obey," the audio recording said, referring to Baghdadi. “We call on all Muslims everywhere to pledge allegiance to the caliph and support him.”

The Sinai-based group has carried out numerous attacks against Egyptian state targets, killing scores of police officers and soldiers, as well as conducting attacks against neighbouring Israel.

It had previously expressed support for IS, but stopped short of pledging its allegiance before Monday, even denying it last week – a move Sinai experts said was indicative of a split within the group.