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Egypt’s ‘wild west’ has descended into chaos according to the Military Council and newly Elected President Mohammed Morsi following deadly border attacks. However, residents of the border towns express lawlessness has been a way of life for them in a region where the police fled after the revolution. Some tell TRNN off camera the military offensive will do nothing to ensure security and stability.

The Egyptian government temporally opened the border for a few hours on Thursday and Friday to mostly Palestinian pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia. As of Saturday, the border was closed it indefinitely.

The state media has hyped up the offensive as a national sensation, garnering the support of Egyptians sympathetic to the fallen soldiers. However, many residents in the border towns express to TRNN the attacks seem more of a charade as similar attacks have consistently plagued northern Sinai since the revolution.

NOTE: Some of this video was secretly filmed as TRNN was denied access to shot the military and police.

Special thanks to the generous and friendly people of al-Arish, Sheik Zuwaid, and Rafah.

Video shot by Jihan Hafiz and Mohammed Gamal