Egyptian military forces have killed 13 militant suspects and injured four others in different parts of the restive North Sinai Tuesday amid an ongoing military campaign against terrorists, Youm7 reported anonymous security official.
The military forces also destroyed four four-wheel drive cars belonging to the suspects and ten underground hideouts, the official added on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.
In the same campaign, a military officer and three conscripts were killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their armored vehicle; their dead bodies were transported to Arish public hospital, the official continued.
On Monday, six militants were killed during the same campaign in North Sinai, and a total of 56 underground hideouts with full living necessities, including blankets, mattresses and clothes, were destroyed, as well as an underground field hospital, four motorcycles, and three four-wheel drive cars equipped with machine guns, Youm7 reported.
Egypt has witnessed a significant rise in militancy since the military-backed ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 following mass protests against his rule. According to the Interior Ministry, militant attacks have killed more than 500 security personnel since then. The Islamic State affiliate in Egypt, which has a footing in North Sinai, has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks.
