Twelve militants were killed today in Egypt's restive North and Central Sinai region, the Army said as it launched a major operation to flush out insurgents, a day after eliminating 16 terrorists.
As many as 92 suspected terrorists were arrested, while 60 militant targets, 30 shelters and 27 unlicensed motor-bikes used by them were destroyed during the raids, the Army said in a statement.
Yesterday, the Army had raided locations in North Sinai, killing 16 terrorists and arresting 30 suspected militants. 66 terrorist points, arms depots, 11 vehicles and 31 unlicensed motor-bikes used by militants were also destroyed.
Law enforcement agencies had announced on February 9 that they will be on "maximum alert" for the duration of 'Operation Sinai' 2018.
North Sinai has witnessed many terrorists attacks since the January 2011 revolution. The attacks, mainly targeting police and military, increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule.
Hundreds of police and army personnel have been killed since.
The military has launched security campaigns in the North Sinai area, in which some terrorists are based.
The security forces have arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had in November ordered the military forces to restore security in Sinai within three months, after militants killed more than 300 worshippers at a mosque.
The attack was said to be the deadliest terrorist attack in Egypt's modern history.
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