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Deadly attacks hit Egypt's Sinai peninsula Deadly attacks hit Egypt's Sinai peninsula
(35 minutes later)
At least 10 soldiers have been killed and injured in a wave of attacks by suspected jihadist militants in Egypt's Sinai peninsula, the military says. Egypt's military says at least 10 soldiers have been killed and injured in a wave of attacks in the Sinai peninsula claimed by Islamic State.
More than 70 "terrorists" launched assaults on five different checkpoints near Sheikh Zuweid, a statement said. More than 70 "terrorists" targeted five checkpoints around the town Sheikh Zuweid, a military spokesman said.
Twenty-three attackers were killed and three pick-up trucks armed with anti-aircraft guns were destroyed, it added. Twenty-three attackers were killed and three pick-up trucks armed with anti-aircraft guns were destroyed, he added.
Initial reports said as many as 30 soldiers were killed, but they could not be independently verified. Clashes are continuing in the area, with militants reportedly besieging Sheikh Zuweid's main police station.
Clashes were continuing in area between troops and the militants, military spokesman Brig-Gen Mohammed Samir said. Islamic State's local affiliate, Sinai Province, said in a statement posted online that it had targeted 15 security sites and carried out three suicide attacks.
The attacks come two days after the assassination of Egypt's public prosecutor Hisham Barakat. The assault is one of the biggest since jihadists based in Sinai stepped up their attacks after the military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi two years ago. At least 600 police and armed forces personnel have since been killed.
Wednesday's attacks came two days after the assassination of Egypt's public prosecutor, Hisham Barakat, in the capital Cairo.
In a speech at Mr Barakat's funeral on Tuesday, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi promised legal reforms to ensure death sentences could be enforced more swiftly for those convicted of acts of terrorism.In a speech at Mr Barakat's funeral on Tuesday, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi promised legal reforms to ensure death sentences could be enforced more swiftly for those convicted of acts of terrorism.
At least 600 police officers and armed forces personnel have been killed in attacks claimed by jihadist militant groups based in the Sinai peninsula since the military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi two years ago.
'Troops captured''Troops captured'
On Wednesday morning, dozens of militants fired mortar rounds and detonated a car bomb in near simultaneous attacks on checkpoints in the Sheikh Zuweid area of North Sinai province, Gen Mohammed Samir said. On Wednesday morning, dozens of militants fired mortar rounds and detonated a car bomb in near simultaneous assaults on checkpoints in the Sheikh Zuweid area of North Sinai province, military spokesman Brig-Gen Mohammed Samir said.
The number of casualties was put at 10, which conflicted with earlier reports. He put the number of casualties at 10, which conflicted with earlier reports.
Security and army officials told the Associated Press that at least 30 troops had been killed, and that several had also been taken captive by the militants. Security and army officials told the Associated Press that at least 30 troops had been killed and 40 wounded, and that several had also been taken captive.
Security sources told Reuters news agency that a police station was also targeted and that 20 members of the security forces were killed. Two checkpoints were completely destroyed, one by a suicide car bomb blast and the other by mortars and rocket-propelled grenades, they added.
Gen Samir said clashes were continuing in area between troops and the militants.
Officials told AP that dozens of policemen were inside Sheikh Zuweid's main police station, which they said was coming under mortar- and RPG-fire.
North Sinai has been under a state of emergency and a curfew since October, when an attack on a checkpoint in El-Arish left dozens of soldiers dead.North Sinai has been under a state of emergency and a curfew since October, when an attack on a checkpoint in El-Arish left dozens of soldiers dead.
Police and army patrols have been increased and additional checkpoints have been set up. Police and army patrols have been increased and additional checkpoints have been set up. In addition, a buffer zone along the border with Gaza has been created by demolishing houses and destroying underground tunnels the military says have been used to smuggle weapons from the Palestinian enclave.
In addition, a buffer zone along the border with Gaza has been created by demolishing houses and destroying underground tunnels the military says have been used to smuggle weapons from the Palestinian enclave. Analysts said the car bomb attack in Cairo that killed Mr Barakat bore the hallmarks of Sinai Province. The group was known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis until it pledged allegiance to Islamic State in November and changed its name.
Analysts said the car bomb attack in the capital Cairo that killed Mr Barakat bore the hallmarks of a group that pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) in November and changed its name from Ansar Beit al-Maqdis to "Sinai Province".
Hours after President Sisi's speech on Tuesday, a soldier was shot dead outside a museum in southern Cairo and three suspected militants were killed when a car in which they were travelling blew up near a police station in a western suburb.Hours after President Sisi's speech on Tuesday, a soldier was shot dead outside a museum in southern Cairo and three suspected militants were killed when a car in which they were travelling blew up near a police station in a western suburb.