Two Egyptian military officers, including a senior border guard official, have lost their lives during an ongoing security operation aimed at curbing illegal gold mining near the Sudanese border. While the military spokesperson confirmed the deaths on Thursday, specific details regarding when the incident occurred were not provided. The campaign, which has already seen three phases completed, is set to enter its fourth stage this weekend as the state attempts to tighten its grip on natural resources and sovereign territory in the Eastern Desert.

Beyond the loss of personnel, the military reported the detention of 691 individuals—151 Egyptians and 540 foreign nationals—as part of their broader crackdown. This mission has previously come under scrutiny, particularly after rights groups alleged that an October airstrike near the border resulted in dozens of civilian casualties. While the military maintains that their operations involve close information-sharing with Sudanese authorities to secure the porous, mineral-rich region of Halayeb and Shalateen, the influx of illegal mining has surged as Sudan's internal civil war continues to destabilize local livelihoods and drive smuggling activity.