12 terrorists killed in Egypt raids

At least 12 terrorists were killed in security raids launched in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula in the past eight days, an army official said Thursday.

"The security campaigns resulted in killing of 12 terrorists and arrest of 70 others who were involved in terror attacks against army and police personnel," state-run MENA news agency quoted army spokesperson Mohammad Samir as saying in a statement.

The army and security forces seized eight vehicles and 29 unlicensed motorbikes and demolished 68 hotbeds of terrorist elements, the spokesperson said.

Also, three Motorola devices, a variety of bullets, two fire bombs, leaflets of the jihadi elements and a huge quantity of narcotics were also confiscated during the campaigns, the army's spokesman asserted.

Oct 25, Egypt announced a three-month curfew and a state of emergency in some parts of North Sinai following a blast targeting a military checkpoint in North Sinai's Sheikh Zuweid city, which left more than 30 soldiers dead.

Egypt has been witnessing unstable political conditions since Islamist president Mohamed Morsi's removal by the military in July 2013 following mass protests against his one-year rule and the following massive security crackdown on his loyalists that left nearly 1,000 dead while thousands more were arrested.