File Photo: Armed security forces on the roof guard the police station el-Arish (Photo: AP)
Egyptian police killed 12 "terrorists" in a shootout in North Sinai’s Al-Arish, a statement by Egypt's interior ministry read.
Police forces received information that a group of “terrorist elements” were using an area of deserted land as a hideout, the statement read, and were planning to carry out hostile operations.
The hideout was located in “Malalaha" area, which is adjacent to Al-Arish police station road.
The raid was carried out based on intelligence obtained by the National Security Agency, which indicated that the suspects began shooting at police forces.
Four automatic rifles, a sniper rifle, ammunition and improvised explosive devices were found at the site.
The Supreme State Security Prosecution is conducting an investigation into the incident, the source said.
Earlier in August, the armed forces issued their 26th communique on recent developments in Operation Sinai 2018, a comprehensive military and police counterterrorism operation that began in February, announcing that in recent days they had killed 52 militants and arrested 49 others.
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