CAIRO, Oct 14 (Aswat Masriya) - The Egyptian armed forces said that 15 militants and 12 security personnel were killed on Friday after armed militants attacked a checkpoint in North Sinai.

In a statement, the armed forces spokesman said that a total of six army personnel and a number of militants were injured.    

Aswat Masriya could not independently verify the content of this statement. Anti-terrorism legislation imposes heavy fines on news organisations that contradict official statements.

Citing medical and security sources, Reuters reported earlier that the attack took place 40 km away from the town of Bir al-Abd.

Militancy inside Egypt has seen a significant rise since the military ouster of former president Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, following mass protests against his rule. North Sinai has been at the epicenter of this insurgency.

According to separate statements by the armed forces over the past year alone, hundreds of suspected militants have been killed and hundreds more arrested in multiple security campaigns launched by the army.