Egypt's president: Foreign hands behind attack that killed 30 troops in Sinai

In this photo provided by Egypt's state news agency MENA, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, center, meets with top officials and army commanders in an emergency session in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. El-Sissi appeared on the state-run TV and said a deadly assault on an army checkpoint in the Sinai Peninsula that killed 30 troops was a "foreign-funded operation." No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. (AP Photo/MENA) (The Associated Press)

In this photo provided by Egypt's state news agency MENA, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi speaks in front of the state-run TV ahead of a military funeral for troops killed in an assault in the Sinai Peninsula, as he stands with army commanders in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. El-Sissi said the deadly assault on an army checkpoint in northern Sinai that killed at least 30 troops was a "foreign-funded operation." No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. (AP Photo/MENA, Mohammed Samaha) (The Associated Press)

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, center, speaks in front of the state-run TV ahead of a military funeral for troops killed in an assault in the Sinai Peninsula, as he stands with army commanders in Cairo. (AP Photo/MENA, Mohammed Samaha) (The Associated Press)

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi says a deadly assault on an army checkpoint in the Sinai Peninsula that killed 30 troops was a "foreign-funded operation."

Roaring in front of cameras on Saturday, el-Sissi said there are foreign powers that want to "break the back of Egypt," without elaborating. He vowed to take drastic measures to uproot the militants and said Egypt is engaged in an "extensive war" that will last a long time.

"There is a big conspiracy against us," he said while standing with army commanders ahead of a military funeral for the slain soldiers and officers.

Egypt declared a state of emergency and imposed a three-hour curfew in the restive northern part of the peninsula after Friday's assault. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.