The Egyptian authorities will impose a security crackdown in the Sinai Peninsula within hours to confront gunmen who are responsible for recent attacks across the area, security sources said on Sunday.

The security situation in Sinai has recently deteriorated, where two police officers and one soldier were killed and three people were wounded on Friday in a surge of attacks in the peninsula.

Unknown assailants also fired at three military checkpoints in the Sinai city of Sheikh Zuweid on Friday.

An Aswat Masriya eyewitness reported that around 10 aircrafts arrived at an airport in central Sinai, in addition to armored vehicles.

The security forces have seized seven boxes of ammunition for machine guns in underground tunnels connected to Gaza, the security sources said, pointing out that they are intensifying security measures across the border area.