Militant attacks in Sinai claim six soldiers’ lives

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At least 24 militants and six soldiers were killed in attacks on military outposts in North Sinai, the Egyptian military said in a statement.

The statement did not give details, but security and medical sources said about 20 members of the security forces were injured when more than 100 militants repeatedly attacked security outposts south of the border town Sheikh Zuweid.

The attackers used car bombs and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), the sources said. The militants also clashed with security forces using light weapons, the sources added.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.

On Friday, the militant group claimed an attack on security forces in the peninsula that killed at least six soldiers.

Egypt is fighting an insurgency by militants affiliated with Islamic State in the Sinai Peninsula, where hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed since 2013, when the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Mursi after mass protests.

The militants extended their campaign to other parts of Egypt, attacking churches in Cairo and other cities with the loss of dozens of lives.