6 militants killed in Egypt's Sinai military raids

 At least six extremist militants were killed in military raids in Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid cities of Egypt's restive North Sinai province bordering Israel and the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian military spokesman said in a statement Wednesday.

"The combing and raiding operations continued to reach 19 areas used by extremists as hiding places and springboards for their terrorist activities in Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid cities," Military Spokesman Mohamed Samir said in the statement.

Similar military operations last week left at least 11 terrorists killed while the forces ruined 57 explosive devices, four hiding places and an ambush house, besides seizing a large number of arms, explosives and ammunition.

Last week raids came a day after a military brigadier general was assassinated on Nov. 4 evening by three terrorists outside his home in North Sinai, while a judge survived a blast in Cairo the same day.

Egypt has been battling growing terror activities since the military removed former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, which was eventually blacklisted as a terrorist organization.

Anti-government attacks over the past few years killed hundreds of police and military men, with a Sinai-based group loyal to the regional Islamic State group claiming responsibility for most of them.