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Egyptian army kills 23 militants in North Sinai

Xinhua, July 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least 23 suspected Islamist State militants were killed Thursday in Egyptian army airstrikes on North Sinai on Thursday, security sources said.

The airstrikes were conducted in the early hours of Thursday, one day after deadliest clashes between the security forces and militants, the sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

According to the army, 17 soldiers and 100 militants were killed in fierce fighting following a wave of militant attacks on military checkpoints on Wednesday.

The sources said Apache helicopters on Thursday struck bases of militants suspected of taking part in Wednesday's brazen attacks on military checkpoints in southern Shiekh Zuweid city.

Sinai-based Ansar Bayet al-Maqdis, an Islamic State affiliate in the peninsula, has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The peninsula has been plagued by a growing militant insurgency following the ouster of Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by the army in response to mass protests against his rule. Endit