Egypt strikes back as mosque attack toll reaches 305

Air force launches retaliatory attacks on terror hideouts; guns down several militants and destroys their vehicles

The Egyptian air force on Saturday gunned down several militants and destroyed their vehicles, hours after the terrorist attack at a mosque in the country's restive North Sinai region. The death toll from the deadliest terror attack on Muslim worshippers at a mosque has risen to 305, the state prosecution said on Saturday. Among the deceased are 27 children, Egypt's General Prosecutor Nabil Sadek said in a statement, adding that 128 people were injured in the attack. About 50 ambulances were rushed to the attack site.

Relatives of the Sinai mosque terror attack victims (right) sit outside the Suez Canal University hospital in Ismailia on Saturday. pics/AFP

Heavily-armed terrorists bombed al-Rowda mosque in Al-Arish city during the Friday prayers. "The number of terrorists involved in the attack vary from 25 to 30," the statement said, adding that they had raised the Islamic State flag. "The terrorists took their positions facing the mosque's door and its 12 windows before opening fire on the worshipers," it added.

Army spokesperson Tamer el-Refai said in a statement that the air forces launched retaliatory attacks on terror hideouts in the surrounding area of North Sinai, killing militants and destroying vehicles used in the deadly attack.

27 No. of children killed in the Sinai mosque attack

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