Blast Hits Egypt’s Pipeline to Jordan

Unknown assailants blew up an Egyptian pipeline in the restive Sinai Peninsula that carries gas to Jordan early Thursday, in the eighth attack of its kind this year, Aswat Masriya reported.

Security sources said a remote-controlled bomb planted under the pipeline went off in Qurayaa area near the North Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, but witnesses said the explosion sent flames rising far into the sky from the spot where the pipeline was struck.

Security sources said the bombing bears the hallmark of over two dozen of previous attacks on the pipeline since the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak

Targeting the pipeline has repeatedly forced a halt to gas exports to Jordan and Israel, the latter of which Egypt used to supply until April 2013.

Egypt has seen an upsurge in militant insurrection, mainly based in the Sinai Peninsula, since the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi amid massive protests last summer.

Militants have also struck Cairo and the Nile Delta with bombings and shootings.

Attacks have mainly targeted soldiers and police, but have also caused civilian casualties.