CAIRO: At least 15 terrorists and 12 Egyptian soldiers were killed today in a major attack by the Islamic State on an army checkpoint in the Sinai Peninsula, which has for years been battling an Islamist insurgency.
The Islamic State terror group claimed the attack in which a group of militants in 4×4 vehicles attacked an army security point in North Sinai, following which a gun-battle broke out between the forces and the terrorists, army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said.
Egypt banned all 4×4 vehicles in army-operation zones in Sinai in July 2015.
The militants targeted a military base about 80 kilometres east of the Suez Canal, local media reported.
Apart from 15 militants and 12 soldiers killed, Samir said a number of terrorists and six security personnel were also injured in the attack.
“The armed forces assert that these despicable acts will not deter it from its duty of protecting the great Egyptian people,” Samir said in a statement.
Security forces have launched combing operations in the area to find if any assailants escaped. (AGENCIES)
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