At least 35 Egyptian troops and police officers were killed in clashes with Islamist fighters in the Bahariya oasis in the country's Western Desert on Friday.
Photo from Google Maps
Security forces, who are hunting down Islamic militants in the region, were ambushed late Friday on a road to the Bahariya oasis, some 200 kilometres southeast of Cairo, according to a statement by the interior ministry.
According to a source close to the security services, the convoy was hit by rocket fire. The attackers also used explosive devices.
There has not yet been a claim of responsibility.
A false claim by the small extremist group Hasm, reported by multiple local media, spread on social media soon after the attack. The group's official Twitter feed, where it routinely shares statements, has however been dormant since October 2.
Since the army removed President Mohamed Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, extremist groups have increased their attacks on the country's military and police.
