10 dead in militant attack on security forces in Egypt’s Sinai

Above, Egyptian security forces guard a checkpoint on a road leading to Arish in this July 26, 2018 photo. Egypt has been battling Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula for years. (AFP)

• Daesh claims responsibility for simultaneous raids on military positions in Arish
• Egyptian security forces have been battling Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula for years

CAIRO: Seven Egyptian police officers and four militants were killed in a clash in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, the interior ministry said on Wednesday.
The clash took place late on Tuesday when militants attacked forces stationed southwest of the city of Arish, the ministry said in a statement.
Daesh claimed the attack, saying it had carried out simultaneous raids on military positions in Arish, according to a statement carried on the group’s Amaq news agency.
Security sources said the militants had used more than 10 four-wheel vehicles in coordinated attacks at four sites.
Egyptian security forces have been battling Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula for years and launched a counter-insurgency campaign in the area in February 2018.
Earlier this month militants attacked a checkpoint in North Sinai, an assault that left eight security personnel dead according to the interior ministry.