Israeli drone strike kills 5 fighters in Egypt

An Israeli drone strike in Egypt's northern Sinai peninsula has killed five suspected Egyptian anti-government armed fighters, according to The Associated Press, which cited Egyptian security officials.  

An Israeli drone attack in the Sinai may signal a significant new level of security cooperation with the Egyptian government following a military coup that ousted President Mohamed Morsi, last month.

Residents heard a large explosion Friday in the region near the border with Israel.

Egypt's army reported two explosions in the Al-Agra area, about 2 miles from the border with Israel.

"The armed forces are combing the area of the explosions to find out the cause," Egyptian army spokesman Colonel Ahmed Aly said in a statement.

Witnesses said Egyptian military helicopters hovered above the site after the blasts.

Egyptian security officials told The Associated Press that the drone had been flying over the site of the attack since early Friday.

Egypt's military and security forces haved been engaged in a long battle against anti-government armed fighters in the largely lawless peninsula.  

The attack came a day after Israel briefly closed its airport in the Red Sea resort of Eilat, close to the Sinai, in response to unspecified security warnings. Eilat was previously targeted by rocket fire from the Sinai.

This isn't the first time Israel has used drones in combat. Human Rights Watch accused the Israeli army of using armed drones against civilians in Gaza.

Since former President Hosni Mubarak's ouster in 2011, Egypt has adhered to its 1979 peace deal with Israel, signed by Mubarak's predecessor, Anwar Sadat.

Al Jazeera America and wire services