CAIRO 

Egyptian security forces killed six suspected militants in an exchange of fire south of Egypt, according to the country’s interior ministry on Saturday. 

In a statement, the ministry said security forces raided a mountainous hideout where fugitive militants were hiding in southern Egypt.

The ministry said six of the militants were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces, without giving any further details.  

Anadolu Agency could not verify the ministry's narrative from independent sources, but human rights groups accuse security forces of killing civilians during raids, a claim denied by the authorities. 

Egypt has been battling a militant insurgency in recent years, particularly in the restive Sinai Peninsula, where scores of security forces were killed in attacks by Daesh-linked militant groups.