Egypt's armed forces killed 29 suspected militants and arrested 32 more in security campaigns on the Sinai peninsula this week, the army spokesman said on Thursday.
Spokesman Mohamed Samir said in a statement that the raids, conducted from Sunday to Wednesday, targeted a "terrorist" gathering in North Sinai's al-Arish, killing 11 suspected militants. Eighteen more were killed during raids on Sheikh Zuweid.
Security forces also arrested seven suspects from Arish, one wanted personnel and six suspects from Sheikh Zuweid and 18 suspects from Rafah, Samir said.
Militancy inside Egypt has seen a significant rise since the military ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, following mass protests against his rule. Most attacks target security forces in North Sinai.
Two policemen were killed and three conscripts were injured when an explosive device went off while a security patrol was passing by a road in North Sinai's al-Arish late Wednesday, the Interior Ministry said.
