Egyptian army says it has killed 60 militants in Sinai

CAIRO – A spokesman for the Egyptian army says it has killed 60 Islamic militants in northern Sinai, where armed forces have been battling fighters affiliated with the Islamic State group for two years.

Brig. Gen. Mohammed Samir said in a statement posted on the army's official Facebook page on Friday that anti-terrorism forces backed by fighter jets targeted "terrorists' hideouts," killing 60 militants and injuring 40 others. He says that 27 4x4 trucks and 32 weapons depots were destroyed.

The renewed offensive comes days after 15 policemen were killed in the same region when militants attacked a checkpoint using mortars.

A Sinai-based Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest in a series of bombings that have killed dozens of security forces since the beginning of this year.