Cairo: At least seven Egyptian security personnel have been killed in a militant attack on a military checkpoint in the country's restive North Sinai governorate, a senior army officer said on Sunday.
The attack took place yesterday when militants opened fire at Abu Refai checkpoint near Shiekh Zwayied city.
The number of soldiers killed in fighting between the army and militants has risen to seven, said army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohamed Samir.
Egyptian army launched a number of raids yesterday in different parts of North Sinai and killed 59 militants, Samir said.
North Sinai has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled ex-president Hosni Mubarak.
The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule.
Many security personnel have been killed since then.
The military has launched security campaigns in the troubled area, arrested suspects and demolished terrorist hide outs.
