Egyptian security forces have killed 11 fugitive militants in a shootout in the country s Western Desert, the interior ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
The shootout occurred during a dawn raid on a hideout in a mountainous area in the Farafra Oasis region, southwest of Cairo, the ministry said in a statement published on its official Facebook page.
The "terrorists" were killed after they opened fire on security forces when they approached them, the ministry said, adding that authorities are still determining their identities.
Four machine guns, three pistols, five explosive belts, a handgun and a rifle were found at the hideout, the statement said.
Egypt in February launched a large-scale operation against terrorists that have launched numerous attacks on security forces and civilians in recent years, killing hundreds.
