Dozens killed in militant attack in Egypt's Sinai

Members of Egypt's security forces were attacked at a checkpoint in the restive Sinai peninsula.

1 min read

14 October, 2016

Members of Egypt's security forces were attacked at an army post [AFP]

Members of Egypt's security forces were killed by militants in Sinai on Friday.

At least 12 people have died after mortar rounds were fired at an army post 40km from the town of Bir al-Abd in Egypt's North Sinai, according to medical and security sources.

It is not known whether those killed where members of the army, police or a joint force.

The eight wounded were taken to hospital in al-Arish.

sinai Militants in Sinai have launched an insurgency against government forces since Egypt's military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

The majority of attacks that have killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers have been claimed by "The Sinai Province", the Egyptian branch of Islamic State.

In August, the Egyptian military claimed it had killed the leader of IS Sinai, Abu Duaa al-Ansari, and a number of his top aides, but attacks by the militants have persisted despite the massive military campaign to uproot IS from the peninsula.