Extremists are trying to destroy Egypt’s security and stability at a time when the country is intensifying efforts to fight terrorism, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Saturday in his first public comments since a deadly attack on army personnel in North Sinai a day earlier.

The president ordered “extreme vigilance” to face such criminal plans, an official statement said, pointing out that he has already warned that attentiveness and alertness to defend Egyptians aspirations.

On Friday morning, Egypt’s military announced that 26 army personnel were killed or injured by car bombs that targeted a security checkpoint near Rafah in North Sinai, and that the army had killed 40 militants in the attacks.

In an official statement, presidential spokesperson Alaa Youssef said El-Sisi was briefed with a report of the attack during a meeting on Saturday with Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, the interior and defence ministers, among others.  

Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The military has not provided a further breakdown of casualty figures.