EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) — Egyptian officials say at least 10 security troops were killed when a car bomb struck a military checkpoint followed by heavy gunfire in northeastern Sinai Peninsula.
The officials say that the Friday attack started when a suicide car bomber rammed his vehicle into the checkpoint in southern Rafah village of el-Barth, followed by heavy shooting by dozens of masked fighters on foot. The dead included a high-ranking special forces officer and at least 20 others were wounded in the attack.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the media. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Egypt has in recent years been battling a stepped-up insurgency in northern Sinai, mainly by an Islamic State group affiliate.
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