State-run Nile TV reported that the strikes killed at least 20 in the port town of El Arish.

CNN: North Sinai violence flares again

Three officers were killed Saturday when a police truck overturned while police were chasing militants near El Arish, the source said.

CNN: Egyptian forces raid Sinai militants, source says

The BBC's Yolande Knell, in al-Arish, said further armoured personnel carriers could be seen overnight on Thursday, heading eastwards towards the border region.

BBC: Egypt tribes back offensive against militants in Sinai

From there, it was flown to Al-Arish airport, just south of the Egypt-Israel border, where it was ferried to Ramallah via helicopter for the burial service.

CNN: Leaders?pay tribute?to?Arafat

Political developments in Egypt, as well as the sabotage of the natural gas pipeline from Egypt to Israel at el-Arish, show that the southern front is active again after 30 years.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Yoav Galant's depressing defeat

With three medium-sized jets, two donated by the Netherlands and one by Saudi Arabia's Prince Waleed bin Talal, the airline has been flying for two years from El Arish, in Egypt, to Jeddah and Amman.

ECONOMIST: Palestinians get their wings