CAIRO, Nov 8 (Aswat Masriya) – The armed forces killed 19 "terrorists" in crossfire while "raiding terrorist epicentres" in the governorates of North Sinai, Ismailia, Damietta and Daqahliya during the past 10 days, said the armed forces spokesman on Saturday.

Security forces also arrested 249 "terrorists and criminals" during the same interval of time, said Armed Forces Spokesman Mohamed Samir in a statement. Those arrested included members of the Sinai-based militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis.

Egypt's security forces have intensified their measures in reaction to repeated militant attacks that target army and police officials, which rose significantly since Mursi's ouster.

At least 30 military personnel were killed in a suicide blast which targeted a security checkpoint in Sinai's Sheikh Zuweid on October 24. The explosion also caused damage to two military vehicles.

Shortly afterwards, a separate attack by unidentified gunmen on a security checkpoint in Arish killed three more security personnel.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency and a nighttime curfew in parts of the Sinai Peninsula in response to the deadly attacks.