Eight Egyptian army soldiers have been killed in anti-terrorism operations. According to an armed forces statement, most of the fighting took place in the northern Sinai, where militants loyal to the Islamic State group operate. It was not clear whether all the soldiers were killed there or in various other regions.

Attacks by Islamic militants began spreading in Northern Sinai after the military overthrew President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013.

Hundreds of policemen and soldiers and more than 1,000 civilians have died in the attacks, according to official statements