4 Egyptian soldiers killed in blast

Four Egyptian soldiers, including two officers, were today killed in a roadside blast in Egypt’s restive Sinai peninsula, where security forces are fighting an Islamist insurgency.

The explosion <g data-gr-id="15">occured</g> in the North Sinai city of Rafah.

The injured have been admitted to a military hospital.

Primary investigation showed that the bomb was planted by members of Sinai-Based militant group Ansar Beitel-<g data-gr-id="17">Maqdes</g>, officials said.

The militant group announced in November 2014 that it has changed its name to Sinai Province after pledging allegiance to the dreaded Islamic State. It had made rapid advances in Iraq and Syria since then.

North Sinai, where the military has built a buffer zone to prevent militants from crossing into Egypt from the Palestinian Gaza Strip, has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since January 2011 revolution that toppled <g data-gr-id="20">prez</g> Mubarak.