18 Terrorists Killed in N. Sinai (Photos)

Eighteen terrorists were killed in a shootout with security forces in Northern Sinai, the Interior Ministry reported in a pre-dawn statement on Sunday.

The national security sector received a tip-off that some militants are planning to carry out hostile attacks, targeting the armed forces and police.

Security forces raided a house in Bir El Abd city where the terrorists were hiding.

The forces seized thirteen automatic rifles, two explosive belts, an three improvised explosive devices.

Legal proceedings have been taken and public prosecution has been notified for further investigations.

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Two days ago, an explosive device exploded in one of the armored vehicles, south of the city of Bir al-Abd, in North Sinai, resulting in death and injury of an officer, a non-commissioned officer and eight soldiers, according to a statement published on the official Facebook account of the Egyptian Armed Forces’ spokesperson.

The military spokesman, Colonel Tamer al-Refaie, added that the Armed Forces stressed on the continuation of the anti-terrorism operations against terrorist elements to maintain the security and stability of Egypt.

It is worth mentioning that, the operation comes as part of the Interior Ministry’s efforts to combat terrorist groups and hunt down the runaway terrorists who plan to destabilize the state’s security and stability.

Egypt’s security forces have been waging a war over the past four years against an Islamist terrorist insurgency, mostly in North Sinai, that has seen hundreds of security personnel killed, as well as hundreds of terrorists killed in security campaigns.

A Sinai-based terrorist group loyal to the Islamic State regional group claimed responsibility for most of the terror attacks in Egypt over the last few years.

Moreover, the Egyptian forces have succeded in killing hundreds of terrorists and arresting thousands of suspects during the country’s anti-terror war declared by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, the army chief then, following ousted president Mohamed Morsi