(AP)
–
Security officials say Egyptian government forces have killed seven suspected militants during raids against hideouts in a village south of the town of el-Arish in northern Sinai. They said today's raids took place in al-Ghora village, some 19 miles south of el-Arish.
The killings are the first reported casualties among the suspected militants since the start late last week of a major offensive against militant groups in the Sinai Peninsula. The offensive followed the killing last Sunday of 16 Egyptian soldiers by suspected militants near the border with Gaza and Israel.
