Violence in Egypt's Sinai Kills 11 Civilians, 2 Soldiers

Military officials say 11 civilians and two soldiers have been killed in three attacks in Egypt’s restive northern Sinai.

The officials said a mortar landed on Wednesday on a residential area south of Sheik Zweid, a town in northern Sinai, hitting a house and killing nine of its residents.

Separately, officials said a missile landed on a house in another village, killing two civilians.

In a third attack, outside the provincial capital el-Arish, officials said an explosive detonated as a military vehicle drove past, killing two police officers. The officials spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Northern Sinai has been a long-time hotbed of Islamic insurgency.

Egyptian officials said the military had no operations in the area.