With the help of navy, air and police forces, Egypt's army announced killing 22 militants in North Sinai and the detention of five others, a statement by army spokesperson Mohamed Samir announced Thursday.

As a continuation of an earlier campaign that started in September 2015, the army recently announced that it began the third phase of the operation, named Martyr's Right.

On 25 May, Samir announced that during the third phase the army killed 88 militants in central and North Sinai.

Armed forces have also created many security checkpoints all over Sinai, to gain more control.

"The military were able to destroy 28 hideouts and nine houses," the statement read.

Martyr's Right is the largest and most comprehensive military operation aimed at rooting out  militants operating in the restive peninsula.

The Egyptian army announced the end of the first stage of the operation, which lasted 16 days, on 22 September, after the "achievement of its primary objectives.”

The first phase of the operation concluded with the reported killing of over 500 militants and the destruction of various militant hideouts and artillery storage facilities in North Sinai.

Phase three of the operation, according to a statement released by the army, will “pave the way for creating suitable conditions to start economic development projects in Sinai.”