Five suspected militants were killed and 13 arrested in a security raid in Sheikh Zuwaid, North Sinai on Sunday, reported Al-Ahram Arabic news website.

The security forces also destroyed five hideouts and two cars the militants were allegedly using. 

Meanwhile, security forces said they detonated three explosive devices found on the same day without any losses or casualties. 

Aswat Masriya had cited security sources who put the number of suspected Ansar Bei El-Maqdis (ABM) militants killed at 12.

Apache helicopters and Egyptian Special Forces "Thunderbolt" participated in the raids in South Rafah and Sheikh Zuwaid after receiving tips about an ABM cell, the sources told Aswat Masriya.

Egypt’s army has been battling a decade-long Islamist militant insurgency in North Sinai. 

Hundreds of security forces have been killed since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 and the military has also announced the killing and arrest of hundreds of “terror suspects.”

However, civilians have also been caught up in the violence. 

Designated as a terrorist organisation in Egypt and other several countries, Sinai-based militant group ABM pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group in 2014.