Egypt's army said it killed 18 “highly dangerous terrorists” in different parts of the restive North Sinai as well as arrested 37 suspects, two different statements on the army spokesman’s official Facebook page read.

Army forces killed the 18 suspected terrorists in airstrikes in North Sinai’s Al-Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuwayed cities.

The army said it also destroyed two major tunnels south of Rafah, each containing equipment such as electricity cables and oxygen tanks.

A number of motorcycles reportedly belonging to terrorist elements were also destroyed during the army raids.

Egypt’s army and police forces have been waging a campaign over the past three years against an Islamist militant insurgency in North Sinai.

Hundreds of security personnel and militants have been killed in the violence.