Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai peninsula during a major offensive against militants, in Al Arish, Egypt in 2018 (VCG Photo)

An attack at dawn against the army in the Sinai region resulted in the killing of five Egyptian soldiers and seven militants, as per the army, in the second similar attack in a few days.

In a statement by the army, a spokesperson said, "One officer and four soldiers were killed and two other soldiers were wounded," adding that seven militants were killed.

The attack was announced by the military as Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. No party claimed responsibility for the Wednesday attack, which came four days after a militant attack on the Sinai Peninsula was claimed by the Islamic State group, killing 11 Egyptian soldiers who were attempting to prevent a "terrorist attack on the Suez Canal zone bordering the Sinai Peninsula."

Egypt El-Sisi orders ending terrorism in North Sinai

Following the incident, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi headed a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces, amid widespread international and Arab condemnation of the attack.

El-Sisi directed law enforcement agents to complete the expulsion of "terrorist units" from some areas in North Sinai.

It is worth mentioning that the Egyptian military forces had conducted a month-long ground and air campaign in May 2020 to target armed organizations and Takfiri groups, as well as their logistical equipment.