Israeli soldiers have killed at least three people after they clashed with armed men on the Egyptian border, Israeli media said.
One Israeli soldier was also killed and another injured in the clashes that took place near Mount Harif on Friday.
Israeli military sources say the violence erupted after unidentified gunmen, who sneaked across the Egyptian border, opened fire on an Israeli military patrol at a point where work is under way to complete the new security fence.
"They opened fire toward IDF (army) troops ... in that area. Another force that was nearby... rushed to the area and targeted those three terrorists," army spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich told reporters adding that all three assailants have been killed.
She, however, declined immediate comment on reports of Israeli casualties.
Armed groups have launched several attacks on Israeli troops from the Egypt's Sinai peninsula since the overthrow of Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak.
On August 2011, at least eight Israelis were killed after a group of gunmen from Sinai infiltrated southern Israel and staged a series of ambushes.
Also on June 18, at least three gunmen sneaked across the border from Sinai and ambushed two cars carrying Israeli construction workers, killing one and sparking a firefight with the army in which two of the gunmen died.
PressTV - Israeli soldiers kill three in Egypt border clashes
One Israeli soldier was also killed and another injured in the clashes that took place near Mount Harif on Friday.
Israeli military sources say the violence erupted after unidentified gunmen, who sneaked across the Egyptian border, opened fire on an Israeli military patrol at a point where work is under way to complete the new security fence.
"They opened fire toward IDF (army) troops ... in that area. Another force that was nearby... rushed to the area and targeted those three terrorists," army spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich told reporters adding that all three assailants have been killed.
She, however, declined immediate comment on reports of Israeli casualties.
Armed groups have launched several attacks on Israeli troops from the Egypt's Sinai peninsula since the overthrow of Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak.
On August 2011, at least eight Israelis were killed after a group of gunmen from Sinai infiltrated southern Israel and staged a series of ambushes.
Also on June 18, at least three gunmen sneaked across the border from Sinai and ambushed two cars carrying Israeli construction workers, killing one and sparking a firefight with the army in which two of the gunmen died.
PressTV - Israeli soldiers kill three in Egypt border clashes
