DHAKA: The Egyptian army says 13 militants have been killed in an air strike targeting an al-Qaeda-inspired group in northern Sinai.

The raid comes days after Islamist group Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis said it shot down a military helicopter in the area.

Militants in northern Sinai have intensified attacks since the ouster of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.

Meanwhile, Israel says an Iron Dome anti-missile system has intercepted a rocket fired at the city of Eilat.

Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis (Champions of Jerusalem) says it has carried out a series of bombings and shootings against the armed forces and police in retaliation for the overthrow of Mr Morsi last July - including a bomb attack on the police headquarters in Cairo last Friday.

It claims to have it shot down an Egyptian army helicopter near the border with the Gaza Strip in northern Sinai last weekend - killing all five crew members.

Military officials said Egypt`s Air Force launched a series of strikes against militants around the city of el-Arish in northern Sinai on Friday. They targeted houses, shops, vehicles and other gathering points.

The number of people killed could not be independently confirmed.

Source: BBC
BDST: 1144 HRS, FEB 01 , 2014