An attack hit ten soldiers, including one officer, the Egyptian military announced on Thursday April 30. "An explosive device detonated and struck an armored vehicle in the city of Bir al-Abd" in North Sinai, said army spokesman Tamer al-Rifai.

It was unknown Thursday evening whether the attacked soldiers had been killed and, if so, how many, or only injured, added the army spokesman without giving further details. Furthermore, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack.

"May God have the soul of our children and of all those who gave their lives and were affected for Egypt. May God have the soul of anyone who has sprinkled the earth of this homeland with his blood so that it stay alive and keep its flag high, "Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi wrote on Twitter.

Extensive "counter-terrorism" operation in North Sinai since 2018

The security forces have been trying for years to contain the insurgency in the region, led by a local group affiliated with the Islamic State organization.

The insurgency in northern Sinai intensified after the army’s ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 following major protests.

Many soldiers and police have died in these attacks in recent years.

>> See also on France 24: in 2017, "the bloodiest attack in the history of Egypt" in North Sinai

The army launched in February 2018 a vast "anti-terrorist" operation in the region, but also in parts of the western desert, between the Nile Valley and the border with Libya.

Since its inception, around 845 suspected jihadists and nearly 60 soldiers have been killed in clashes, according to official figures. No verified assessment from an independent source is available and the region is largely forbidden to journalists.

With AFP

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