Egypt’s army killed ten "terrorists" and injured 13 others in fresh raids on militant hideouts in the troubled North Sinai, the army spokesman said on his Facebook page Friday.

Ground forces carried out raids in Al-Arish, Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah, aided by an army helicopter cover.

Forces also arrested six on suspicion of carrying out attacks against security forces.

The army was able to find and destroy an underground tunnel north of the Rafah border crossing replete with cement walls, electricity and light. It was used in smuggling, the statement added.

Egypt has been long working to quell a decade-long Islamist insurgency that spiked in the past three years.

Terrorist attacks in Egypt have killed hundreds of security forces in recent years. Authorities have reported that hundreds of militants have been killed in army campaigns in the North Sinai governorate.