Terror group claims blast at el-Arish al-Qantara in Sinai, without evidence; energy official reportedly says that no damage done and gas is still flowing

Jihadists took over town of Bir al-Abd, but were later then driven away, leaving behind explosives that have claimed the lives of women and children

Military says 'three officers and four soldiers were killed or wounded' in operations over last six weeks

2 military personnel also killed, 4 injured as forces repel attack on security position in north Sinai town of Bir al-Abd

Potential removal of some 400 soldiers from US-led peacekeeping force is opposed by Israel and US State Department, The Wall Street Journal reports

Hisham el-Ashmawi, who left the military in 2011 and became a leader in driving attacks on officials, had been affiliated with Islamic State, al-Qaeda terror groups

Police raid hideout of 'terrorist elements' in provincial capital of El-Arish, find weapons and explosives, officials say

Though sources said attacked pipe was a domestic one, jihadist group insists it 'targeted... the natural gas line linking the Jews and the apostate Egyptian government'

'The gas is reaching Egypt,' Jerusalem's energy ministry says, after Arab media report attack near northern Sinai coastal town of Bir El Abd

Announcements offer first signs of support from terror group's global affiliates in Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's successor Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi Al-Qurayshi