Ten Egyptian military personnel were “killed or wounded” when an improvised explosive device was detonated in North Sinai on Thursday, the Egyptian military said.

An officer, a non-commissioned officer, and eight soldiers were killed or injured when an IED detonated under their armoured vehicle in southern Bir El-Abed city in North Sinai governorate, according to a military statement.

"The armed forces underscored the continuity of combating terrorist elements to maintain the security and stability of the country," the statement added.

This is the first such attack since February, when the armed forces thwarted a terrorist attack on a security checkpoint in North Sinai governorate, killing ten terrorists participating in the attack.

The cabinet issued a statement of condolences for the military personnel who lost their lives in the incident and wishing a speedy recovery for those injured.

"The cabinet mourns Egypt's armed forces martyrs who were martyred by an explosive device in Bir El-Abed city in North Sinai governorate," the statement said.

The statement underlined the Egyptian people's appreciation of the efforts exerted by the men of the military to safeguard the country and to defend it against "the enemies of the homeland and of religions."

History will remember those who defend their homeland, just as the Egyptians remember the martyr Ahmed El-Mansi, who was martyred in a terrorist attack in the city of Rafah in Sinai in 2017, read the statement.

The military has been carrying out Operation Sinai 2018, a counter-terrorism campaign, since February 2018. The campaign involves land, naval and air forces, as well as the police and border guards.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/368395.aspx