• The Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said 20 “suspects,” including gunmen, approached the border near Nitzana before being fired at by soldiers operating in the area

CAIRO: Egypt thwarted a drug smuggling attempt on the Egyptian-Israeli border after an exchange of gunfire, two security sources and local television station Al Qahera News TV said late on Monday.

During the incident six drug smugglers were arrested in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula south of Al-Awja border crossing — known in Israel as the Nitzana crossing — the security sources added.

The Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said 20 “suspects,” including gunmen, approached the border near Nitzana before being fired at by soldiers operating in the area.

Injuries were reported, he added on social media platform X.

An Israeli official said the suspects most likely were trying to smuggle drugs across the border from Egypt, which has been at peace with Israel for decades.

Together the countries enforce a blockade around the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Reuters