Egypt: Army offensive kills 16 militants in Sinai

Al Arish: Egyptian military officials say troops have killed 16 members of an Al Qaida-inspired militant group in the restive Sinai Peninsula.

The officials say four leading members of Ansar Bait Al Maqdis were arrested during the operations, which were still under way early Tuesday.

The assault was carried out against militant hideouts in three villages south of the town of Shaikh Zuweyid and in the Mahdiya village near Rafah, which is on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to brief the media.