Egyptian army near Al-Arish in the Sinai peninsula (Photo: Reuters)
Islamic State-affiliated Sinai Province, previously known as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, has claimed responsibility for the ongoing attacks on military sites in North Sinai that have killed at least 20 soldiers so far.
In a statement circulated on Twitter accounts affiliated to the group, IS explained that its allies had mounted 15 simultaneously attacks on military sites, including "martyrdom operations" on Al-Arish's officers club and two checkpoints in Sheikh Zuweid.
Eleven checkpoints and a police station in Sheikh Zuweid were attacked by militants using missiles, the statement added.
As reported by news outlets, the group said that it had prevented reinforcements from approaching the attack sites, and used air defence missiles in response to attacks by Egyptian military jets.
Sinai Province has claimed responsibility for a number of large-scale attacks across Egypt.
In October last year, at least 31 security officers and soldiers were killed in two separate attacks on military checkpoints in Sheikh Zuweid and Al-Arish.
Moreover, the group claimed in January that it had raided six different military and police sites in North Sinai in attacks which left at least 44 killed.
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