(VOVworld) – Egypt declared a three-month state of emergency Friday in the north and center of the Sinai Peninsula after a suicide car bombing killed at least 33 soldiers.

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi called a meeting of the National Defence Council in the wake of the attacks. (Photo: AP)

The National Defense Council said that it will react “cowardly criminal attack”, announcing a 3-day state funeral and 3-hour curfew per day in areas near the border line between Egypt and Palestine’s Gaza Strip. Nearly 60 soldiers were injured in 2 attacks on Friday by Islamic extremists targeting a military check-point in Sheikh Zuweid city, north Sinai, and the other in Al Arish. According to analysts, these attacks were the bloodiest in Egypt over the past months. This may start instability in Sinai.