CAIRO, Aug 26 (Aswat Masriya) - Egyptian armed forces said on Friday it killed four militants in an exchange of fire North Sinai's Rafah.

Security forces fired at the militants as they were trying to attack a checkpoint North Rafah, said the army spokesman in a statement.

The spokesman said that the militants were planting explosive devices in the area around the checkpoint but security personnel were able to dismantle them. 

Militancy inside Egypt has seen a significant rise since the military ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, following mass protests against his rule.

Most of the insurgent activities which target security personnel and facilities occur in the restive Sinai peninsula, particularly in North Sinai.

The group known as "Sinai Province", affiliated with Islamic State fighters in Syria and Iraq, claim most of the attacks in the area.

The military in conjunction with the police forces have embarked on several security campaigns in North Sinai aimed to fight militants.