Part of Egypt- Zionist Israel pipeline blown up

Unidentified assailants have blown up a terminal of the Egyptian pipeline pumping natural gas to Israel and Jordan in the second attack on the pipeline in as many weeks.

The explosion occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the city of El-Arish in the northern part of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula near the border with Zionist Israel, the Associated Press reported.

The attackers ordered the guards on duty to leave and then blew up the terminal, starting a huge fire that sent flames shooting into the air that lit up the night sky, according to officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

There were no casualties, they said.

It was the fourth attack on the pipeline since an 18-day uprising toppled Hosni Mubarak’s regime on February 11.

No one claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack but disgruntled Bedouin tribesmen in the area have been blamed for attacking the pipeline in the past.

Egypt provides up to 45 percent of Zionist Israel’s gas imports according to the terms of a 20-year contract signed in 2005.

The exports have long been a controversial issue in Egypt, as Hosni Mubarak’s regime was accused of selling gas to Zionist Israel too cheaply.

Following an April attack, the Egyptian authorities stepped up security measures along the 192-kilometer (119-mile) pipeline.