18 militants killed as Egyptian Army retaliates against IS for Sinai attack

CAIRO: Eighteen militants and 11 security officials, including eight policemen, were killed as the Egyptian Army launched a retaliatory attack in North and Central

CAIRO: Eighteen militants and 11 security officials, including eight policemen, were killed as the Egyptian Army launched a retaliatory attack in North and Central Sinai against the Islamic State for a deadly assault that left 12 military personnel dead on Friday.

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Egyptian military spokesperson Brig Gen Mohamed Samir said the army killed 18 militants in the operation on Sunday.

Three soldiers were killed and two others injured during the operation as the air force destroyed 16 shelters used by the militants while artillery and ground forces attacked other targets which belong to the terrorists in North Sinai, he said.

Local media also reported citing security sources that eight policemen, including three officials and five conscripts, were killed in the army campaign in different villages of Shiekh Zwayed city in North Sinai.

Four vehicles and 14 motorcycles used by the terrorists in their attacks were destroyed and a large number of weapons were seized, Samir said.

He said the campaign was bolstered by airstrikes against militant positions where security operations are taking place.

This is the second comprehensive campaign launched by the army since the three-stage campaign of the “Martyr’s Right”.

This is the largest and most comprehensive military operation aimed at rooting out militants based in the restive North Sinai.

The first stage of “Martyr’s Right” was launched in response to an attack in October 2014 that killed 33 security personnel.