WarSclerotic

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Bennty Gantz gave the Israel Airports Authority permission to reopen Eilat Airport on Thursday night after it had been closed for some two hours due to unspecified security reasons.

The decision to reopen the airport came following the latest security evaluation held by Gantz. The IDF said it would continue to monitor events.

The airport was closed to incoming and outgoing flights  at approximately 7 p.m. on Thursday evening following a security assessment.

The closure was not due to any ongoing security incident.

The IDF order came as Egypt’s army said on Wednesday that it had killed 60 militants in the lawless Sinai Peninsula in the month since the military overthrew Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.

Citing widening “terrorist operations” in “recent times”, the army said it was conducting an intensified campaign in Sinai in coordination with the interior ministry to crack down on militants that “threaten Egyptian national security.”

Militants based mainly in North Sinai near Israel’s border have escalated attacks on security forces and other targets since July 3, when the army deposed Morsi and installed a new government.

Defense Minister Ya’alon Moshe said last month that Egypt has inserted additional military forces – including assault helicopters – into Sinai after receiving permission from Israel, in line with the peace treaty between the two countries.

Reuters contributed to this report.