In Pictures
Since the Egyptian uprising in 2011, the Sinai peninsula – a vast land of mountains and deserts – has become increasingly volatile. The new government inherited a legacy of lawlessness caused by 30 years of neglect, marginalisation and hostility between the Bedouins native to the region and the state.
The rise of attacks against army checkpoints and police stations have spurred calls for more development in the region, which many see as a possible solution to the unrest.