Egyptian soldiers killed in rocket attack

By Abduljabbar Aburas and Gulsen Topcu

CAIRO

Seven soldiers, including two colonels, were killed Thursday in an attack in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, a security official said.

A military vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade as it travelled on a highway linking the cities of Al-Arish and Al-Abd, the official said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.

Col. Ahmed al-Kafravi and Col. Muhammad al-Bashir were among the fatalies.

The Sinai Peninsula has been the epicenter of a militant insurgency since mid-2013, when the army ousted Mohamed Morsi -- Egypt’s first freely elected president -- in a bloody military coup.