One soldier and 19 militants were killed in the third day of a massive air and ground operation against Islamist insurgents in the restive North Sinai region on Tuesday, Al-Ahram daily reported on its website.
"The surprise air raids destroyed 31 dens and warehouses of extremist elements," said military spokesman Mohammed Samir, quoted by Al-Ahram.
Three vehicles, three motorbikes and eight explosive devices for use against the security forces were destroyed in raids, Samir said.
Besides the 19 militants, the attacks killed a soldier, he added.
The operation came after militants attacked an army checkpoint west of North Sinai's capital El-Arish on Friday, killing 12 soldiers and wounding at least six others.
Security forces retaliated by killing and injuring scores of militants in North Sinai over the weekend.
Friday's checkpoint attack was claimed by the Sinai-based Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, which is loyal to the Islamic State regional group. It has taken credit for most of the attacks in the volatile region which have killed hundreds of soldiers and policemen over the past three years.
