11 extremists killed in Egypt

At least 11 extremists were killed and four suspects were arrested on Saturday during security raids on their hideouts in Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid cities of Egypt's North Sinai province, security sources in the peninsula told Xinhua.

"The raid also destroyed three buildings and seven motorbikes used by the militants, and seized three wireless devices for remote explosion, 12 cylinders designed as explosive devices and a bulletproof vest," said the sources, adding that the raid also destroyed the opening of a cross-border smuggling tunnel in Rafah border area.

Similar military raids last week killed 22 extremists and wounded 30 others in the restive Sinai Peninsula.

The extremists were believed to be loyalists of the Sinai-based, Al Qaeda-inspired Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) militant group, which has changed its name to "Sinai State" and vowed loyalty to the regional Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Terrorist activities increased in Egypt since the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi by the army in July 2013 and the security crackdown on his loyalists that left over 1,000 dead and thousands more under arrest.

On the other hand, hundreds of police and army personnel were killed in attacks carried out by extremists and self-proclaimed Islamists since Morsi's removal.