Egyptian air raids hit jihadist strongholds in Sinai to revenge deadly attack

Egypt's military launched air strikes against jihadist targets in North Sinai at early hours of Saturday in retaliation for the killing of 12 army personnel on Friday at a checkpoint, the army said.

"The Armed Forces pursued the criminal and terrorist elements who implemented the terrorist attack," the army said in a televised statement.

Friday's attack took place in the central Sinai area 40 km from the town of Bir al-Abd, as a group of terrorist elements used rifles and automatic weapons to attack the checkpoint, security sources said.

The army in return has killed 15 terrorists on Friday.

"The airstrikes targeted the hideouts of the armed extremists involved in Friday's attacks," added the statement.

"All the areas harboring the terrorist elements along with the weapons and ammunition depots were destroyed in the airstrike that lasted for three hours and is still ongoing," it said.

A number of extremist elements were also killed, the statement added.

North Sinai province has been a hub for anti-security attacks that killed hundreds of police and army man since the army-led ouster of the Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. The armed forces in coordination with the police have declared "war on terrorism", and more troops were deployed.

A Sinai-based militant group loyal to the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for most of attacks, including Friday assault. Endit