Gunmen kill 12 Egyptian soldiers in Sinai

Twelve members of Egypt's security forces have been killed and eight others injured in an attack by gunmen suspected of having links to the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the northeastern province of North Sinai.

The Friday assault was carried out at a security checkpoint near the town of Bir al-Abd.

Fifteen of the attackers, who arrived at the checkpoint in all-terrain vehicles, were also killed.

Officials said the attack started with the gunmen opening fire on the checkpoint with light arms and heavy machine guns. Mortar fire followed.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but it had the hallmarks of Velayat Sinai Takfiri terrorists group, previously known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis.

SS