At least two policemen were injured Saturday in clashes between security forces and unknown militants in North Sinai, state owned news agency MENA reported, citing security sources.

In press statements, security sources said that clashes erupted in Al-Arish and extended to a North Sinai highway, leading to the wounding of several policemen.

According to the sources, a North Sinai security directorate deputy in the investigation department and several conscripts were among those injured.

They were transferred to hospitals to receive medical treatment.

The sources said that the “terrorist elements” opened fire on a police contingent during a security raid, leading to major clashes with heavy gunfire as police forces responded.

Police were combing surrounding areas to arrest the militants responsible.

The interior ministry has yet to release a statement on the incident.

The attack comes nearly a week after Egypt’s interior ministry announced it had killed a leading figure in the Sinai based terrorist group Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis during a raid on a house in the governorate.

Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis has claimed responsibility for the majority of attacks against security personnel and installations in the restive North Sinai.

Egypt’s army and police forces have been waging a war over the past three years against an Islamist militant insurgency in North Sinai that has seen hundreds of security personnel, as well as hundreds of terrorists killed.