Egypt's military has foiled an attempt to smuggle arms and illegal materials into the country across its western border with Libya, the armed forces said in a statement on Monday evening.

The operation resulted in the destruction of six 4x4 vehicles and the killing of all "criminal elements" inside, according to the statement.

"Egypt's border guard units, along with the air force, are combing the western borders in the area of the operation," the military said.

The Egyptian military has been conducting operations in Egypt's Western Desert to stop the infiltration of militants and the smuggling of weapons across  the Egyptian-Libyan border.