“It takes place within the country’s territory.” The Egyptian army reveals details of the campaign against “gold miners”

The Egyptian army announced, Thursday, that it will begin implementing the fourth phase of the massive campaign to confront illegal gold prospecting in the Eastern Desert, next Saturday, stressing that the armed forces did not target civilians, but rather were working to protect the Egyptian borders and preserve the nation’s capabilities.

The military spokesman for the armed forces, Colonel Staff Ahmed Etman, said that the armed forces did not target civilians, but rather worked to protect the Egyptian borders and preserve the nation’s capabilities. The spokesman added that all operations to combat illegal gold mining take place within the Egyptian borders.

The military spokesman added during a press conference in which he reviewed the details of Operation “Southern Shield,” which was implemented in three stages to confront the phenomenon of illegal gold prospecting, known as “Al-Dhaba,” as part of the efforts of the armed forces to secure the southern border, confront illegal activities that threaten Egyptian national security, and protect the country’s wealth.

Colonel Ahmed Etman announced the seizure of 151 Egyptians and 540 foreigners, and the seizure of 34 weapons and 6,307 pieces of ammunition of various calibers as part of the campaign.

The Egyptian army spokesman said, "The armed forces are coordinating with the Sudanese side regarding securing the borders."

The military spokesman added that the Egyptian Armed Forces are intensifying border guard patrols or tactical formations to ensure that criminal elements do not return.

He stressed that the armed forces adhere to the utmost levels of restraint and the conventions of international law, explaining that “illegal gold prospecting affects livestock and agricultural wealth.”

The military spokesman said that the Egyptian Armed Forces possess the highest levels of readiness and combat readiness to protect Egyptian national security and preserve the nation’s capabilities, warning against engaging in criminal activities.

Staff Colonel Ahmed Etman confirmed that the campaign comes in implementation of the directives of the General Command of the Armed Forces to protect the state and the security of its lands and to protect the people’s wealth and the rights of future generations, explaining that the goal of the campaign is to unify the efforts of the ministries and agencies concerned to confront this phenomenon.

The military spokesman continued: "The armed forces carried out several preemptive strikes to cut off the supply of weapons and ammunition that were reaching criminal elements across the border."

The military spokesman added that the armed forces are coordinating with the relevant ministries to impose security control and tighten the noose on criminal elements.

The Egyptian army announced that it had implemented the third phase of its campaign against “illegal” exploration for gold ore in the country’s eastern desert, amid reports of Sudanese prospectors being subjected to air strikes.

A statement by the Egyptian army stated that “law enforcement elements from the armed forces and civil police (continue) implementing the third phase of the massive campaign to confront illegal exploration for gold ore in the Eastern Desert, after dropping warning leaflets on criminal elements to impose full sovereignty within the borders of the Egyptian state and protect its national capabilities and wealth.”