An image grab taken from a handout video released by the official Facebook page of Egypt's Military Spokesman on Dec 8, 2020 shows an Egyptian army M60 tank driving in an urban setting. (EGYPTIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY / AFP)

CAIRO - At least five Egyptian military personnel were killed in a militant attack on Wednesday in northern Sinai, two security sources said,the second deadly strike against security forces on the peninsula in less than a week.

Four others were injured when armed men opened fire at a security post in the coastal area of northeastern Sinai, which borders the Gaza Strip, the sources said.

Four others were injured when armed men opened fire at a security post in the coastal area of northeastern Sinai, which borders the Gaza Strip, sources said

There was no immediate comment from Egyptian authorities.

The deaths follow a May 7 ambush at a checkpoint in Sinai that killed 11 Egyptian soldiers and was claimed by Islamic State, one of the deadliest attacks in recent years. 

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Egypt expanded security control over populated coastal areas of northern Sinai since a major counter-insurgency operation was launched in 2018, but sporadic attacks by militants linked to Islamic State have continued.

News of Wednesday's attack came as President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met US national security advisor Jake Sullivan in Cairo. The Egyptian presidency said the two had discussed the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, which is a major provider of military aid to Cairo.

On Monday, Sisi voiced hopes for deeper counter-terrorism ties with Washington in a meeting with the general who oversees US forces in the Middle East, a US military official said.

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