Cairo: Egypt says security forces have killed
eight suspected militants in a shootout in the northern Sinai
Peninsula.
The Interior Ministry said today the firefight broke out
when the forces raided a suspected hideout in el-Arish city.
It said the militants were planning attacks targeting security
forces, and were in possession of explosives, rifles and
ammunition.
Egypt has been battling militants in the northern part of
Sinai Peninsula for years, but the insurgency became far more
deadly after the 2013 military ouster of Mohammed Morsi, an
elected but divisive Islamist president.
An Islamic State affiliate based in the Sinai has carried
out a number of high-profile attacks in recent years, mainly
targeting security forces and Egypt's Christian minority.
