Egyptian troops in the border Sinai Peninsula killed three militant fighters and arrested tens of suspects on Tuesday, army sources told Aswat Masriya, as the military presses on with its campaign to quell an insurgency in the region.

Thirty militant suspects were arrested in the raids that took place in the northern Sinai towns of Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah, state news agency MENA said..

Some 30 shacks and buildings allegedly used as bases for terrorist attacks were also destroyed.

Egypt has been hit by an upsurge in Islamist militancy led by Sinai-based militants that has mainly targeted security forces since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last summer and an ensuing crackdown on his supporters.

Radical groups have claimed responsibility for most of the attacks, vowing to avenge the killing and arrest of hundreds of Islamists following Morsi's removal.

Hundreds of police and troops have been killed in the violence which has also led to civilian casualties.