The Egyptian military is mulling a military intervention in the besieged Gaza Strip in case the situation in Egypt’s volatile Sinai Peninsula further deteriorates, a report says.

The Palestinian Ma’an News Agency cited unnamed Egyptian military officials as saying on Wednesday that Egyptian reconnaissance planes had entered Gaza’s airspace and examined a number of potential targets in the Rafah border crossing and the southern town of Khan Younis.

The officials also stated that Egypt’s army may also blow up more tunnels on the Egyptian side of the border with the Gaza Strip in an effort to, what they called, maintain control over the Sinai, stressing that “all options are open.”

The military sources further alleged that certain organizations based both in Sinai and in Gaza are “behind the violence” in the restive region.

The Sinai Peninsula has long been considered a safe haven for militants who use the region as a base for terrorist activities. In recent months, the remote desert region has been the scene of growing violence and militant attacks.

“The Egyptian army does not believe the population of Gaza is involved in the violence in Sinai, but certain factions strongly support Sinai groups. The tunnels play a major role in the communication between both sides,” an Egyptian military source claimed.

Over the past months, Egypt has stepped up its crackdown on the supply tunnels leading into Gaza which bring basic supplies to the Gazans in the besieged enclave.

Palestinians say the tunnels are the only resort to provide food and other basic needs for the starving population in the impoverished territory.