Egyptian security forces today killed seven Islamists militants in a raid on their hideouts in the strategic northern Sinai Peninsula during a drive to flush the insurgents out of the area.
The violence erupted when security forces raided the hideouts of the militants in al-Goura village in Sheikh Zoweid area in the northern Sinai region that borders Israel and the Gaza Strip, Egyptian media reported.
The bodies of those militants killed and the wounded were taken to the el-Arish Hospital, they said.
The militants possessed rocket-propelled grenades, automatic guns and a large number of hand grenades, security sources said, adding they had exchanged fire with the army.
The fresh violence comes days after the start of a military operation in the region against militants who killed 16 Egyptian soldiers last Sunday.
Today’s clashes took place after armed men attacked several Egyptian army checkpoints.
