(VOVworld) - At least 20 extremists were killed and 16 others were injured in raids launched by the Egyptian security forces in Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid cities of North Sinai province.

The Egyptian armed forces conduct a military operation against extremists in the Sinai Peninsula. (Photo: AFP)

Egypt has been facing a rising wave of terrorism since the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi by the military in July 2013. Egypt’s new leaders have carried out a security crackdown on Morsi supporters that left at least 1,000 killed and thousands more arrested.

Anti-government attacks have since extended from Sinai to the capital Cairo and other provinces across Egypt, killing hundreds of military and police personnel.