Egypt’s military said six soldiers were killed in clashes with armed smugglers near the country’s western border with Libya on Thursday.
The soldiers were patrolling the border when they “came under surprise fire” from the smugglers, a military statement said, adding that a number of smugglers were killed in the exchange of fire.
Egypt has contended with jihadists in the western desert and along the border with Libya, as well as smugglers who bring in weapons and drugs across the long frontier.
It has also been battling a jihadist insurgency in its eastern Sinai peninsula that has killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers.
