CAIRO
Egyptian security forces killed three militants on Monday evening in security operations in the northeastern Sinai Peninsula, according to officials.
Two were killed in joint police-army operations in North Sinai, a mountainous region bordering both Israel and the Gaza Strip.
A security source told Anadolu Agency that two "takfiris" had been killed in raids conducted in the North Sinai villages of Zawaraa and Abu Lifta, while two others had been arrested.
Egypt's Sinai Peninsula has seen an uptick in violence since July 3, when Mohamed Morsi – the country's first freely-elected president – was ousted by Egypt's military establishment.
The Egyptian army is currently carrying out the largest military operation to be seen on the peninsula since Egypt's 1973 war with Israel with the stated aim of combating "militancy and terrorism."
A third militant, meanwhile, identified as Mahmoud Abdou, succumbed to gunshot injuries in the nearby city of Port Said, according to a statement issued by the Port Said Security Directorate.
He was shot during an exchange of fire with security forces that had raided his home in the district of Al-Zohour, the statement read.
Abdou had been suspected of involvement in recent attacks on a local police station, a security source said.
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