'12 militants killed, 70 arrested in Egyptian army raids'

Twelve militants have been killed and 70 others arrested by Egyptian army during recent raids in the restive North Sinai Governorate, the military said today.
The army has killed 12 militants, arrested 70 others and seized 37 vehicles belonging to the terrorists from December 3-10 in North Sinai Governorate, who participated in terror attacks against army and police personnel, army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said in a statement.
North Sinai has been the scene of many violent attacks by Islamist militants since the January 2011 revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule in Egypt.
The attacks targeting police and military increased after Egypt's first elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was deposed by the army last year.

Over 500 policemen and soldiers have been killed in the attacks.
Egypt declared a three-month state of emergency in parts of North Sinai and a curfew was imposed following a deadly attack that killed 31 soldiers in October.
The army has launched frequent security campaigns in the area, arresting suspects and demolishing houses that belong to terrorists, including facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.