Seven Egyptian army officers were killed and other six injured by a remotely detonated roadside bomb southwest of Arish in the Sinai Peninsula on Sunday, security sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
The bomb exploded as a patrol responsible for protecting a natural gas pipeline passed by, the sources said.
The bomb was planted on the ring road, southwest of Arish, according to sources and eyewitnesses. Military and police troops are combing the area in search for the perpetrators, that are likely to be extremists.
The bodies and victims were transferred to Arish military hospital.
Egyptian security forces have been strugling to clear the peninsula of extremist groups since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsy. Militants have claimed responsibility for deadly assaults on army and police troops in Sinai and other regions of the country.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
