ABM emerged from a number of indigenous
Salafi jihadist groups in the
Sinai Peninsula. Some of these groups had ties to Salafi jihadis in
Gaza or leaders that had previously fought abroad, including with
al-Qaeda.[12]
ABM was believed to have been the main group behind terrorist activity in the Sinai.[14] From September 2013 to late January 2014, ABM claimed responsibility for a rapid succession of mass scale attacks throughout Egypt, including the attempted assassination of the
Egyptian interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim.[12] ABM recruited
Bedouins as well as other Egyptians and people of other nationalities.[14] Ten leaders from the group were reported to have escaped from the Sinai to
Gaza and
Marsa Matrouh in late 2013.[15]
During 2014, ABM sent emissaries to ISIL in Syria to seek financial support, weapons and tactical advice.[16] On 10 November 2014, many members of ABM took an
oath of allegiance to
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIL.[17] Following this pledge, ISIL supporters within ABM formed an official branch of ISIL in the region,[18][19] known as Wilayat Sinai, the Sinai Province of the Islamic State (or ISIL-SP).[12]
October 2013 attack on a military intelligence building in
Ismailia.[27]
November 2013, assassination of Mohamed Mabrouk, a security officer involved in the trial against
Mohamed Morsi, who was shot dead outside his home in
Nasr City.[28]
24 December 2013
bombing of a police compound in
Mansoura, killing at least 16 people, including 14 police officers.[29]
31 January 2014, a rocket was launched from the Sinai Peninsula aimed at
Eilat, Israel. The
Iron Dome system intercepted the rocket.[30]
20 January 2014 attack in Eilat. No damage or injuries were reported.[31]
23 January 2014 attack on a police checkpoint in
Beni Suef that killed 5 people.[32]
25 January 2014 shooting down of a military helicopter in the Sinai.[35]
28 January 2014 assassination of Mohamed Al-Saied (who was a member of Egypt's
Interior Ministry).[36]
31 January 2014 attempted attack on Eilat. The rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome system.[37]
16 February
2014 Taba bus bombing that killed four people, including three Korean tourists and an Egyptian bus driver.[38] The group warned all tourists to leave Egypt before 20 February 2014.[39]
2 May 2014 attacks that killed 3 people in the Sinai.[40]
on 19 July 2014 Ansar Bait al-Maqdis ambushed Egyptian army soldiers, this event is knows as the
2014 Farafra ambush
on 28 August 2014 ABM released a video showing the beheading of 4 Egyptians accused of being
Mossad spies and providing Israel with intelligence.[41]
late September 2014 killing of 6 security personnel.[42]
On 8 October 2014, a faction of ABM in the Gaza Strip, calling itself the Islamic State of Gaza, launched a bomb attack on the French Cultural Center in the city of
Gaza, only to issue a statement several hours later denying any responsibility for the attack.[6]
ABM released a graphic propaganda video claiming responsibility for the
24 October 2014 Sinai attacks that killed 28 soldiers northwest of the town of
Arish. The group was also responsible for a drive-by shooting several hours later at a checkpoint in Arish that killed three soldiers.[43]
After November 2014, attacks by the group were claimed as those of ISIL-SP.