CAIRO: An Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) affiliated militant group claimed that it carried out attack on an Egyptian navy ship in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday.
A statement believed to be from the group, which is based in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, claimed it used a “guided missile” to target the ship near Rafah, on the border with Gaza.
The group called itself the State of Sinai, released several photos that appeared to show a projectile flying toward and then striking a military ship, causing a huge explosion.
The Egyptian army said a military vessel caught fire following a firefight between security forces and suspected militants near Rafah on Thursday.
The State of Sinai, formerly known as Ansar Bait El-Maqdis, has claimed responsibility for the deadliest attacks.
The Egyptian army has struggled to crush the militants in the Sinai, which borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Israel and Gaza to the east and the Red Sea to the south.
