Three army officers and seven soldiers were killed on Wednesday (March 22nd) during a raid on a militant hideout in Central Sinai, Ahram Online reported Thursday.
The soldiers were killed after two improvised devices (IEDs) detonated in their vehicles as they were attempting to chase militants, the Egyptian army said in a statement.
Fifteen militants were also killed in the fighting, said the statement.
The military said the clashes broke out when soldiers raided "an extremely dangerous" extremist hideout.
It said soldiers found a cache of explosives and bombs ready for use as well as grenades and ammunition.
The "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon that it blew up two army vehicles during clashes south of the Sinai city of al-Arish.
