Egyptian Army’s soldiers fire artilleries during a launch of a major assault against militants in the troubled northern part of the Sinai peninsula in Al Arish.

:: The Egyptian military forces hit and destroyed 20 targets and a number of headquarters used by terrorist elements as their base.

The forces destroyed two car bombs and attacked with artillery bombardment 185 targets aiming at the hiding places, weapons and ammunition depots belonging to the terrorist elements based on confirmed information on these targets.

The statement said that the military forces foiled a suicide attack set to target the armed forces.

Four high-risk terrorists wearing explosive belts and military uniforms, similar to those of the armed forces were arrested.

Security forces found a highly dangerous terrorist location in the city of Arish and eliminated seven armed terrorist elements during an exchange of fire.

The terrorists had three automatic rifles, two explosive devices for detonation and a means of subsistence.

The army said a cache of weapons buried underground had been found containing large quantities of weapons and ammunition and reported the destruction of 375 hideouts, a shelter, a storehouse and trenches made for terrorist elements.

The locations contained quantities of ammunition, grenades and detonators, large quantities of narcotics, rations, fuel and auto spare parts.

The Egyptian army arrested 641 criminal suspects, bringing the total number of the arrested to 2235 individuals, including 547 criminal elements, wanted and sentenced were handed over to the authorities.

The security check of 241 individuals is being inspected, 1447 individuals were released after proven innocent of performing acts of violation of the law.

According to the army statement, the Air Force discovered and destroyed two four-wheel-drive vehicles loaded with quantities of ammunition and highly explosive materials on the southern strategic route while trying to infiltrate into Egyptian territory.

On the western direction, border guards managed to seize 30 firearms, thwarted four attempts to trespass illegally and arrested 419 infiltrators of different nationalities.

The army said that an officer and two soldiers were killed, while one officer, two lieutenants and four soldiers were injured during the clashes and the clearing of terrorist posts.