Egyptian army says 11 militants killed in Sinai

Egyptian troops have killed 11 militants in shoot-outs in the restive Sinai Peninsula where security forces have battled an insurgency since president Mohammad Mursi's overthrow, the army said on Monday.

The fighters were killed on Sunday when troops clashed with them during a raid in north Sinai, the army said, adding that three cars and eight motorbikes belonging to the "terrorist elements" were destroyed in the firefight.

Since Mursi was deposed in July 2013, the army has poured arms and soldiers into the peninsula to quell the insurgents, who have also struck Cairo and other cities using car and roadside bombs.

Militant attacks have surged since the army overthrew Morsi and cracked down on his supporters.

The insurgent attacks usually target security personnel, but they have also led to civilian casualties.

On July 26, four children died when a mortar hit their home in the northern Sinai town of El-Joura, believed to be a bastion of militants who have killed scores of police and soldiers over the past year.