CAIRO (Sputnik) — The explosion took place in North Sinai's regional capital of Arish, the Sky News Arabia channel reported, citing Egyptian security sources.
No official confirmation followed, while the Mansheet news website put the injured count at nine. The soldiers have reportedly been hospitalized in critical condition.
Egypt has been fighting a jihadist insurgency in northern Sinai since the army, led by President Abdel Fattah Sisi, overthrew then Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Police and security forces have been the target of deadly attacks by Islamists in the area.
In 2014, Sinai's indigenous militants pledged allegiance to the Daesh group, which is outlawed in many countries, including Russia and the United States. The self-proclaimed Wilayat Sinai has subsequently claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks in the area.
