(VOVworld) - Egypt's army has arrested 12 leaders of Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis, an affiliate to the Islamic State in Sinai. According to a statement by Egypt’s army, the leaders were arrested while they were meeting to plan a range of "deadly" attacks.

Egypt security forces secure the area outside a Cathedral in central Cairo after an explosion carried out by militants last December (Photo: AP/ VNA)

In November 2014, the Sinai-based militant group Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group. Militants have killed hundreds of Egyptian security force members over the course of the insurgency.