Egypt media says sophisticated weapons used in Sinai attack, country in state of war

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Egypt's Sinai Peninsula seeing bloodiest fighting in decades

Insight from Amb. Edward 'Skip' Gnehm, former deputy assistant secretary of defense and deputy assistant secretary of state

CAIRO – A newspaper close to the Egyptian government says the Islamic State-linked militants who attacked troops in the Sinai Peninsula used sophisticated weaponry, including Russian-made Kornet anti-tank missiles.

In a graphic on its front page Thursday, el-Watan daily says the attackers also used mortars, anti-aircraft guns and other guided missiles.

The attack, which included a wave of suicide bombings and assaults on security installations by dozens of militants, was Sinai's deadliest fighting in decades. Security officials said dozens of troops were killed, along with nearly 100 attackers.

Newspapers led their front pages with the attack, with many describing it as a "war." Graphic photographs released by the military showed the bodies of extremists killed in the fighting who were wearing combat fatigues.