Cairo: Army personnel were killed and seven others injured as militants today attacked an army checkpoint in restive North Sinai.
The militants attacked Abu Refai checkpoint near the restive Shiekh Zwayied city, killing five army personnel and injuring seven others, official sources said.
The security personnel retaliated and the firing is still ongoing, the sources said.
The ambulances could not enter the area to rescue the injured due the heavy fighting, the sources added.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a statement, army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said that three soldiers were killed and four others were injured after a random missile fell on an army checkpoint in the restive North Sinai.
He said the army is chasing the militants in Sheikh Zwayied.
North Sinai?has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January, 2011 revolution that toppled the 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 reported killed since then.
The military has launched security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.
