No casualties in massive explosion in town of Bir al-Abd; attack comes as Egyptian troops and locals step up battle against terror insurgency in the area

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

In bipartisan letter to Esper and secretary of state, 12 Congress members call American soldiers in peninsula 'vital' to upholding 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty

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

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

Jihadists boast of two simultaneous assaults on police checkpoints in el-Arish as Muslims mark Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr

Social media posts show video of purported plan to create Palestinian state in Gaza and parts of the Egyptian-ruled peninsula; actual plan expected to be launched in June