The Egyptian army has killed 40 terrorists over the past seven days and arrested five others in Egypt’s North Sinai, an army spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday.

The army also destroyed 20 vehicles belonging to terrorist elements, four motorcycles and four car-bombs that were intended to target security forces.

Security forces in North Sinai also destroyed 52 terrorist hideouts that were used to store weapons, medical supplies, explosives and communication devices, the statement read.

The statement added that the army destroyed 100 explosive devices, as well as eight explosives workshops.

Security forces have been battling an Islamist insurgency for several years in North Sinai, with hundreds killed on both sides.