Egyptian soldiers killed in Sinai ambush

Two ambushes by armed men in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula have killed at least 15 soldiers and wounded 19, according to Egyptian security and medical officials.

They said four other attacks on army checkpoints at about the same time killed two civilians and wounded 10 more. The four attacks appeared to have been aimed at diverting attention from the main assault on the checkpoint south of the turbulent town of Sheikh Zuweid, said the officials.

Gunmen also opened fire on soldiers with automatic rifles and rockets at checkpoints in Rafah, the Agence France-Press news agency reported.

Reports from local Egyptian media say that at least 15 armed men were killed by the Egyptian military forces during the attacks.

The attacks came as Egypt continued its battle against armed groups operating in the northern Sinai, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Attacks mainly targeting Egyptian security forces have spiked since the 2013 military coup which toppled President Mohamed Morsi following protests against his rule.

Most of the biggest attacks have been claimed by a Sinai-based group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) last year.

The security officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the press.

Wire services