In this photo provided by Egypt's state news agency MENA, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, far left, and other officials follow a soldier carrying medals of troops killed in Friday's assault in the Sinai Peninsula, during a military funeral in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 (Photo: AP)
A number of members of the international community have condemned the militants attacks in Sinai on Friday that killed 30 soldiers and injured 31 more.
On Saturday the United States and several European and Arab states all pledged their support to Egypt in combating militant violence.
Twenty-eight soldiers were killed and another 30 injured when a car bomb exploded at the Karm Alkwadis security checkpoint in Sheikh Zuweid in North Sinai on Friday. Hours later three security personnel died when militants opened fire on a checkpoint in nearby Al-Arish.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon extended his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Egyptian government, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured soldiers.
The US pledged its continued support, as part of the strategic partnership between the two countries, for Egyptian government efforts to counter “the threat of terrorism” in Egypt, a US State Department communique said.
France also condemned the attacks and extended their condolences to the victims’ families in an official statement.
France said that it stands alongside the Egyptian people and the government in their “fight against terrorism.”
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond denounced the attacks, highlighting "UK support to the Egyptian government in their fight against terrorism."
Kuwait was among the Arab states that condemned the attacks.
According to Egyptian state news agency MENA, an official in the Kuwaiti ministry of foreign affairs said on Saturday that the attacks aims to destabilise Egypt.
Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad Al-Momani also denounced the attacks and pledged Jordan’s continued support for Egypt under any circumstances.
Al-Momani called on the international community to stand alongside states which combat terrorism, particularly in the Middle East.
A militant insurgency by jihadist groups in the peninsula has become more active since the ouster of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Hundreds of police and soldiers, as well as militants, have been killed as a result.
Egypt declared a three-months state of emergency in parts of North Sinai starting Saturday morning, accompanied by an overnight curfew. Authorities also declared three days of national mourning.
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