Egyptian President signed a decree to extend the country's state of emergency for three additional months.

Iran Press/Africa: The decree by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi notes that the armed forces and police must do everything possible to fight terrorism and the financial sources of terrorism, as well as protect lives and property.

The presidential decision was reportedly supported by the country’s parliament and will enter into force beginning on Thursday, Sputnik reported.

A state of emergency was declared in Egypt in April 2017 after terror attacks on Christian churches in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria killed over 50 and injured 100.

Insurgents have long targeted security forces in Egypt, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula.

Egypt has been conducting a massive security operation in North Sinai for over a year to weed out armed groups, killing and arresting hundreds.

North Sinai has since 2011 been swept up in the ongoing conflict between insurgents and Egyptian police and security forces. Militants have repeatedly staged attacks in the region, targeting law enforcement and civilians.

Russia suspended all civilian air traffic to Egypt in November 2015 after a bomb brought down a Russian plane en route from Sharm El-Sheikh to St. Petersburg, killing all 224 people on board.

Flights between the Russian and the Egyptian capitals were resumed in April 2018 after Egyptian authorities made improvements to security.

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Egypt renews state of emergency for three months