An Egyptian soldier has been killed and five people injured in a fire exchange that broke out with militants near the town of al-Arish in North Sinai governorate.

Alaa Mohammed Eid was shot in the stomach on Sunday and succumbed to his injuries after being transferred to a Cairo hospital, AFP quoted Security officials as saying.

The clashes erupted after militants attacked the North Sinai security headquarters in the town of al-Arish at dawn using rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles.

In a separate incident, fighting between militants and security forces in the town of Sheikh Zuwayid left three policemen wounded.


Militants then attacked the police station in the town, where one woman and a child were injured in the ensuing clashes.

Eight people were also arrested in a town south of Sheikh Zuwayid.

On August 5, Sinai militants clashed with Egyptian soldiers, killing at least 16 border guards and leaving several others injured.

The outbreak of militant attacks in the Sinai region prompted the Egyptian government to deploy hundreds of troops in the restive region to prevent future violence.

Egypt has been trying to secure its borders following the 2011 revolution, which resulted in the ouster of dictator Hosni Mubarak.

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Press TV