Egypt kills leader of ISIS terror cell behind the shooting down of Russian passenger jet which killed 224 people

Egypt's military has claimed it has killed the leader of the ISIS terror cell responsible for the shooting down of a Russian passenger jet which killed 224 people. Terror group leader Abu Duaa al-Ansari was killed in Sinai along with 45 of his top aides and other militants in a series of airstrikes, according to a military

spokesman. The airstrikes, launched near the town of Arish, also destroyed arms and ammunition stores used by the group. 

Known as Wilayat Sayna, the group has been branded the 'most dangerous terror group in Egypt' following a five-year campaign of bloody attacks.

As well as the deaths, the military announced that 'dozens' of fighters had been wounded. 

'These successful operations avenge our martyrs, and keep the punishment of all militants and their leaders on track,' an army spokesman said in a Facebook post.

He said counter-terrorism forces backed by war planes guided by 'accurate intelligence' carried out the operation.  

The Sinai Branch, formerly known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, claimed responsibility for the shooting down of a Metrojet passenger plane in October 2015.-Dailymail