The Egyptian Air Force has killed over 40 militants linked to the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the north of Sinai Peninsula.

The country’s warplanes also wounded at least 15 militants in a large operation on Saturday, Russia's Sputnik news agency reported, adding that military helicopters and ground forces were also involved in the operation.

Over the past years, militants have been carrying out anti-government activities and deadly attacks, taking advantage of the turmoil caused in Egypt after democratically-elected President Mohamed Morsi was ousted by the military in July 2013.
The government in Cairo has been battling militants in Sinai for years now and views the volatile region as a safe haven for terrorists and has killed hundreds of them so far.

Militants from the Velayat Sinai terror group, previously known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, have claimed responsibility for most of the attacks, mainly targeting the army and police.

In November 2014, the group pledged allegiance to Daesh, which is wreaking havoc in Iraq and Syria.