Jerusalem (ANTARA News/Xinhua) - Israel has urged Egypt to limit or remove its heavy armor and war aircraft from the Sinai peninsula -- ostensibly deployed in recent weeks to quash terror groups using the lawless wilderness as a staging ground for attacks, local media reported Tuesday.

Israel sent such a message to the Egyptian government via the White House, hoping the routing via the Americans would add weight to the request, said the report.

Egyptian security sources acknowledged that the government was streaming in armed forces, including tanks and other armored vehicles, rocket launchers and other gear, according to the Times of Israel.

Israel`s Prime Minister Office spokesmen, however, would not comment on the report, when queried by Xinhua on Tuesday, and foreign and defense ministry sources said they were unaware of the news.

While Israeli officials have been urging Egypt to enforce a crackdown on militants, some officials here are watching the buildup with apprehension, since it marks the first time Cairo has sent in such forces since the 1973 war with Israel. (ANT)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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