5 militants killed by security forces in N. Egypt

By Omar Thabit

CAIRO

Five militants were killed Monday in clashes with security forces in a desert area in northern Egypt, an Egyptian security source said.

“National security officials received information that a terrorist cell is hiding in a mountainous area on the Al-Asher-Belbeis road,” the source said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.

“Joint security forces raided the alleged hideout and the militants opened fire. Security forces returned fire, killing five of them,” the source said without providing a precise location for the incident.

Security forces are now combing surrounding areas in pursuit of additional militants, he added.

Some rights groups have accused Egyptian security forces of carrying out extrajudicial killings. Egyptian security officials, for their part, deny the accusations.

Egypt has recently seen numerous attacks by unknown militants targeting officials and military checkpoints in the Sinai Peninsula.