An Al-Qaeda-linked group active in the Sinai Peninsula says that its members were the target of a reported Israeli drone strike into Egyptian territory.
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis said in a statement posted on a militant website that a drone that crossed into Egyptian airspace killed four fighters as they were preparing a cross-border rocket strike into Israel.
It said the rocket squad's leader escaped.
Egyptian security officials, speaking anonymously on August 9, said that a drone firing from the Israeli side of the border had killed five suspected militants.
The officials said the Israeli attack was launched in cooperation with Egyptian authorities.
An Egyptian military spokesman later denied the report but did not provide another cause for the explosion.
Israel has maintained official silence about the strike.
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis said in a statement posted on a militant website that a drone that crossed into Egyptian airspace killed four fighters as they were preparing a cross-border rocket strike into Israel.
It said the rocket squad's leader escaped.
Egyptian security officials, speaking anonymously on August 9, said that a drone firing from the Israeli side of the border had killed five suspected militants.
The officials said the Israeli attack was launched in cooperation with Egyptian authorities.
An Egyptian military spokesman later denied the report but did not provide another cause for the explosion.
Israel has maintained official silence about the strike.