Egyptian armed forces have destroyed two vehicles and four motorcycles used by terrorists in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula, leaving 19 militants dead, security officials said.
The officials, who asked to remain anonymous, told Asharq Al-Awsat that on Friday militants attacked a security checkpoint in the small town of Dir el Abd, killing four soldiers and injuring three others.
So warplanes hunted down the militants and struck their vehicles and motorcycles. At least 19 of them are dead, said the officials.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi condemned Friday's attack, saying on Facebook that Egypt will triumph in the "battle against terrorism."
In a statement posted on a militant website, ISIS in Sinai claimed responsibility for the attack.
Also Friday, Egypt's Defense Ministry said security forces had killed 118 militants in north and central Sinai in the "past period", without giving dates.
Egypt's military said at least 10 troops, including an officer, have been killed or wounded in clashes with militants in recent operations in the northern Sinai Peninsula
