The Egyptian army killed 40 members of extremist groups in northern Sinai during an ongoing military operation to restore stability in the region, local media reported on Thursday citing a spokesman for the army.
“In the course of the armed clashes in the north of Sinai, 40 militants were killed, several dozen wounded and over 30 members of extremist groups were captured,” the spokesman said adding that the operation to eliminate militant bases in the region continues.
On Wednesday, Egypt fired missiles at suspected militants following an attack on security checkpoints at the weekend. The violence comes after 16 Egyptian border guards were killed in an attack on Sunday that Egyptian officials blamed on Islamic militants. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi pledged to retaliate.
Egypt has shut down its border crossing with the Gaza Strip as it hunts the remaining gunmen.
There has been an increase in violence on the peninsula since a popular uprising toppled former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak last year. One of the checkpoints involved in Wednesday's clashes has been attacked 28 times since the 2011 uprising.
