Egyptian Army soldiers patrol in an armored vehicle backed by a helicopter gunship during a sweep through villages in Sheikh Zuweyid, northern Sinai (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt's state news agency MENA said army forces killed seven militants and arrested four in an operation against terrorist activity in North Sinai.
MENA reported the deaths occurred in an exchange of fire.
Army spokesman Mohamed Samir said five motorcycles used by militants were destroyed and one privately owned vehicle missing license plates used by militants in attacks was confiscated.
Egypt's army is countering an insurgency based in the North Sinai government that has so far led to the deaths of hundreds of police and army personnel.
A surge in the violence occurred after the bloody dispersal of a sit-in in support of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in August 2013, moving militant activity to Egypt's capital Cairo and the Nile Delta, as well as Upper Egypt.
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