Egypt’s Defence Minister Sedki Sobhi met on Wednesday with families of army personnel who have lost their lives in recent militant attacks, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported.

Present at the meeting were the families of 22 soldiers and officers who were killed earlier in July in an attack at Al-Farafra in AL-Wadi Al-Gadid.

During the meeting, Sobhi said that the killing of Egyptian military and police personnel “will only strengthen our resolve and determination to respond with utmost force to the enemies of the state who hold weapons to destroy Egypt and the will of its people.”

Sobhi also announced that the families of the murdered troops would be sent to perform the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, with all expenses covered by the army.

Relatives at the event reportedly requested speedy revenge for their sons.

Militant attacks targeting police and military have been commonplace since the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi last summer amid mass protests against his year-long rule.