Rocket hits Israel from Egypt’s Sinai, army claims

JERUSALEM (AA) - A rocket was fired on Monday from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula into southern Israel, according to the Israeli military.

“Moments ago, a projectile was launched from the Sinai Peninsula and hit the Eshkol Regional Council,” a military spokesperson said on Twitter.

No injuries were reported.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack.

Egyptian authorities have yet to comment.

The attack came hours after Israel decided to close its border crossing with Egypt in the wake of two church bombings that killed more than 40 people in northern Egypt.

Egyptian authorities have declared a three-month state of emergency following the attacks, which were claimed by Daesh terrorist group.

Sinai has remained the epicenter of a deadly militant insurgency since 2013, when Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely-elected president, was ousted in a bloody military coup.

In the almost four years since the coup, hundreds of Egyptian security personnel have been killed across the restive peninsula.

Egyptian security forces, meanwhile, continue to wage a fierce campaign -- involving elements of both the police and army -- against what they describe as Sinai-based "terrorist groups".

Egypt’s army-backed authorities say they are battling the Welayat Sinai ("Province of Sinai") group, which is alleged to have links with the Daesh terrorist group.