Egypt's security forces have not received any orders to initiate an armed operation to free the security personnel kidnapped in Sinai, a senior security source told the state-run news agency.

The unnamed source said the security forces prefer negotiating with the kidnappers in order to maintain the safety of hostages, according to the Middle East News Agency.

Militants kidnapped seven security officers on Thursday, including four army conscripts and three state security officers.

Meanwhile, the authorities have deployed a large number of Central Security Forces to North Sinai, following an attack on a security forces base by unidentified gunmen in Arish on Monday.

The army sent around 80 battle groups and 26 tanks to Sinai on Monday to reinforce security in the volatile peninsula, according to the source.

The entrances to the governorate of Suez also witnessed a heavy security presence after the posting of a widely circulated video that showed seven blindfolded men who said they were the hostages.