Fourty-seven militants and five Egyptian troops were killed during recent raids in the Sinai border region, the army said in a statement Thursday.

Air forces destroyed 29 hideouts used by "terrorist elements" in operations central and northern Sinai, the statement said. Militants killed were found in possession of rifles and improvised explosive devices.

Five army personnel, including two officers and three soldiers, were killed and four others wounded during the fighting, the statement added.

Egyptian security forces launched an extensive security operation in February 2018 to eliminate Islamist militants who have launched violent attacks that mainly targeted police and troops over the past several years.

The statement also said that military engineers in Sinai discovered and destroyed 385 bombs planted to target forces at operation sites. Forces also arrested 158 criminal suspects.