5 soldiers killed, 8 injured in terror attack in Egypt

Cairo, Mar 17: At least five soldiers were killed and eight others were injured when militants today attacked an army checkpoint with mortar shell in Egypt's restive North Sinai.

A mortar shell fired by militants exploded at the checkpoint in the city of Rafah, killing at least five soldiers and injuring eight others, security officials said.

The injured were transferred to the hospital for treatment, most of them in critical condition, the sources added. Egypt's North Sinai has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled the ex-president Hosni Mubarak.

The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule.

Over 700 security personnel have been reported killed since then. The military has launched security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.

PTI