The fatalities came as the militants tried to storm the security checkpoint in the North Sinai city of Sheikh Zuweid on Thursday, prompting the Egyptian soldiers stationed there to respond, said army spokesman Brigadier General Mohamed Samir.

Some 10 other militants were wounded in the ensuing clashes, which also claimed the lives of four army personnel and left eight injured, Samir added.

The Egyptian army further destroyed eight militant hideouts as well as four of their vehicles and a motorbike during the counter-operation in the area, according to the security official.

In another incident on Thursday, Daesh-linked militants bombed a section of the pipeline carrying gas to Jordan and to a major industrial zone in North Sinai.

The Egyptian affiliate of the Takfiri Daesh terror group, known as Velayat Sinai, claimed responsibility for the blast that took place close to the North Sinai village of el-Midan.

Over the past few years, militants have used the Sinai Peninsula as a safe haven to carry out deadly attacks mainly targeting Egyptian army and police forces.

Velayat Sinai, previously known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, has claimed responsibility for most of the assaults. The group pledged allegiance to Daesh in November 2014.

The Egyptian army has long been engaged in military operations against the militants in the volatile region, which has been under a state of emergency since October 2014, Press TV reported.

S/SH