Egypt's cabinet approved in a Wednesday meeting the extension of a 2014 presidential law allowing the Armed Forces to assist police in securing "vital" governmental and public facilities for two years starting 28 October 2016.

The extension of the law is yet to be approved by the parliament. 

First issued in October 2014, Article 1 of the law states that members of the Armed Forces would collaborate and fully coordinate with police in securing facilities including electric power stations and pylons, gas pipelines, oil fields, railway stations, road networks and bridges.

The facilities would be treated as military installations while they are secured by military forces.

The law also stipulates that those who "attack" these government facilities will be referred to military prosecutors and tried by a military court.

The law was issued a few days following a North Sinai attack on an army checkpoint that left 31 army soldiers dead and 30 injured in 2014.

Egypt's security forces have been battling a decade-long Islamist insurgency in parts of North Sinai, which spiked in 2013.

The military has launched an intensified third phase of a comprehensive military campaign to purge the restive governorate of militants through "pre-emptive strikes against terrorist elements."

Over 100 militants have been killed since the third phase was launched at the end of May, according to official statements by the army spokesman.