Two Soldiers, Five Militants Killed in North Sinai: Military

Egypt’s Armed Forces hindered a terrorist attack on Wednesday on a security checkpoint in North Sinai, killing five militants and injuring two others.

The spokesperson of the Armed Forces Tamer Al-Reifai said in a statement that two soldiers were killed in clashes that followed the failed attack. One of the militants was wearing an explosive vest and attempted to raid the security checkpoint.

Several militants fled the scene after the shootout.

Earlier this week, 18 policemen were killed in  a terrorist attack claimed by the Islamic State. The militants detonated an improvised explosive device and destroyed four armored vehicles and a signal-jamming vehicle. After destructing the vehicles, the attack turned later into a gunfight and four ambulance workers were injured.

North Sinai has been caught in a crossfire between Egypt’s security forces and militants since the ouster of the former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. According to the military, thousands of militants have been killed in the operations held against them.