Explosion Rocks Egyptian Gas Pipeline

It is the fourth attack on facilities supplying Egyptian gas to Israel this year (Reuters)

Explosion Rocks Egyptian Gas Pipeline

Egyptian state TV says masked gunmen have blown up pipeline that supplies gas to Israel and Jordan.

Gunmen have blown up a terminal of the Egyptian natural gas pipeline that supplies Israel and Jordan in a predawn attack, Egyptian state television reports.

The explosion occurred east of El-Arish, a city in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, located about 50km west of the Israeli border, the governor of Northern Sinai told Nile Television on Tuesday.

Flames from the blast could be seen up to 20km away, the broadcaster reported, without giving details on the causes of the explosion or the damage incurred.

A security guard and his family were injured in the blast, the official MENA state news agency reported on Tuesday, without citing its sources.

Fire trucks were working to contain the blaze and security forces were scanning the area to "find those behind this explosion and to find the type of explosives used", the report said.

At least four assailants ordered guards on duty to leave and then blasted a terminal of the pipeline, Egyptian officials told the Associated Press news agency on condition of anonymity.

No one has claimed responsibility for Tuesday's explosion, the fourth attack on the pipeline since the 18-day uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak's regime on February 11.

Bedouin tribesmen in the area and those who oppose Egypt's 1979 peace treaty with Israel have been blamed for previous strikes.

The pipeline serves 40 per cent of Israel's gas consumption.

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.