Deadly Sinai attack targets Egyptian soldiers

At least 10 Egyptian soldiers were killed in a car bomb attack near the North Sinai city of el-Arish on Wednesday.

Around 35 soldiers were also wounded in the attack, one of the deadliest in the restive Sinai Peninsula since al-Qaeda-inspired militants began stepping up assaults following the army's ouster of Islamist President Mohammad Mursi in July.

The soldiers were traveling in a convoy as the car bomb hit.

In recent months, Egypt has bolstered security in the restive peninsula to crush militant activity.

The soldiers were traveling in a convoy as the car bomb hit at around 7:45 am (0545 GMT), according to a statement from the military.

The bombing was the deadliest in the Sinai bordering Gaza and Israel since an August 19 ambush by gunmen on a convoy of security forces that killed 25 policemen in the North Sinai town of Rafah.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, a bomb attack on a checkpoint in the Egyptian capital wounded four policemen including a major on Wednesday, security sources told Agence France-Pesse.

The attack occurred in the northern area of Abboud. Security sources said assailants hurled an explosive device at the checkpoint, destroying a kiosk.

Infographic: Sinai violence targets army

Infographic: Sinai violence targets army