Eighteen Takfiri militants and 11 security officials, including eight policemen, were killed as the Egyptian army began rooting out terrorists in North and Central Sinai in retaliation for the Friday's deadly attack by the Islamic State that left 12 military personnel dead.
Egyptian military spokesperson Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said in a statement that the army killed 18 Takfiri militants in the operation yesterday which is aimed to target terrorists and outlaw elements from several areas in the North and Central Sinai region.
Three soldiers were killed and two others injured during the operation as the Air Force destroyed 16 shelters used by the Takfiri elements while artillery and ground forces attacked other targets which belong to the terrorists in North Sinai, he said.
local media also reported citing security sources that eight policemen, including 3 officials and five conscripts were killed in the army campaign yesterday in different villages of Shiekh Zwayed city in North Sinai.
Four vehicles and 14 motorcycles used by the terrorists in their attacks were destroyed and a large number of weapons were also ceased, Samir said.