Egyptian army kills 5 militants in North Sinai

Five militants were killed and 12 others arrested by Egyptian security forces in separate raids in restive North Sinai region today.

In a military operation in Masa'ed district in Al-Arish city, four members of Ansar Beit el-Maqdes (Jerusalem supporters) militant group were killed by forces, officials said.

The slain militants included a dreaded member of the militant group, MENA state news agency reported.

Ansar Bait el-Maqdes, dominant jihadist group in Sinai, had claimed responsibility for some militant attacks in the area since last year.

In another operation, security forces killed one militant and arrested 12 others.

As many as 39 shelters belonging to terrorists were destroyed and four motorcycle used by them were impounded in the operation.
 

North Sinai has witnessed many violent attacks by Islamist militants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled ex-president Hosni Mubarak.

Islamists militant attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of ex-president Mohamed Morsi last year.