CAIRO, Oct. 24 (Aswat Masriya) –  A police officer and two soldiers were killed and eight others were wounded in an explosion targeting a military vehicle in the city of al-Arish in North Sinai, according to a source in the interior ministry.

Security forces combed the site of the explosion, reported the state-run news agency MENA.

The attack comes amid an escalation of the North Sinai insurgency over the past week.

Yesterday, Friday, a police officer was killed and three conscripts were wounded in an attack targeting an armored police car where explosives were planted at the western entrance of Arish city on the International road connecting Arish to Qantara.

Eleven policemen were also wounded in an explosion on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The armed forces, in coordination with police, are engaged in the second phase of a security operation dubbed "The Right of the Martyr", the first phase of which began early September and lasted 16 days.

Described as "Egypt's largest military action in North Sinai," the operation targets sites in Rafah, Arish and Sheikh Zuweid, all towns in northern areas of the peninsula, said a military statement then.

On Thursday, an army statement said that a total of 20 “terrorists” were killed, 12 wounded and 78 suspects arrested as a result of security raids in Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid.  

Egypt has been engaged in a battle with insurgents in North Sinai since the military ouster of former president Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, after protests against his rule.

Aswat Masriya cannot independently verify the content of army statements. Anti-terrorism legislation imposes heavy fines on news organizations that contradict official numbers.