CAIRO, Aug 18 (Aswat Masriya) - The Sinai Province, an ISIS-affiliated militant group based in North Sinai confirmed on Thursday that the Egyptian military killed the group's leader.

Egypt's military spokesperson said last Thursday that the military had killed the Sinai Province's leader, Abu Duaa al-Ansari along with 45 more people in airstrikes on the Northern Sinai town of Arish.

The group announced a new leader, Abd Allah, and maintained their allegiance to ISIS and Abu Bakr al-Baghdady on their social media accounts.

Supreme state security prosecution referred 116 defendants accused of being in connection with Islamic State fighters in Syria and Iraq, to military prosecution on Wednesday.

The defendants faced charges of establishing and managing a “terrorist group” against the law, disrupting the provisions of the constitution and preventing state institutions from carrying out their work, reported Al-Ahram.

According to the investigation results, the defendants had in their possessions publications and leaflets that “incite against state institutions”, planning to overthrow the government, possession of weapons and explosives and attempted murder.

Egypt listed the Islamic State group and their affiliates a “terrorist organisation” as per a court ruling in November 2014.

Islamic State fighters have controlled large areas of Iraq and Syria recently, killing hundreds of civilians. The group has also a presence in Libya and in Egypt’s North Sinai.

Sinai Province pledged allegiance to ISIS in November 2014, making Sinai one of the many territories in the region where the militant group has a foothold.