Updated

Egyptian security officials say army helicopter gunships have rocketed several houses where militants were thought to have gathered in the northern region of the Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 10.

They said Wednesday night's raids targeted a large house in the town of Sheikh Zuwayed and several others in nearby villages.

They claimed the dead included senior members of the al-Qaida-inspired Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, or Champions of Jerusalem.

The group has claimed responsibility for attacks across Egypt in recent months that have killed dozens of people, mostly police and military.

Militants in northern Sinai for years targeted security forces there, but stepped up their attacks after the July ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.