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Egypt's security forces kill 5 Sinai extremists

16 September 2014 03:14 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least five extremists were killed on Monday during security raids on their hideouts in Egypt's North Sinai province, a security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"After confrontations with security forces, three extremists were killed in their vehicle south of Sheikh Zuweid city, whereas another vehicle managed to run away," the source said, noting that two militants were also killed in a raid at a village in southern Rafah city.

Since the beginning of September, the ongoing security campaign has left at least 56 extremists killed in North Sinai, mostly belonging to al-Qaida-inspired Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis group.

Militant attacks have surged in Sinai and other provinces, including the capital Cairo, since former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi was ousted by the military in July 2013.

Sinai-based Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, which is branded by Egypt and the United States as "a terrorist organization," has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks against the security personnel.