CAIRO, Oct. 25 (Aswat Masriya) – A total of 25 militants were killed in exchanges of fire with security forces over the past two days, according to a statement by the armed forces Sunday.

The army statement said they arrested 15 suspects and dismantled 39 explosive devices.

Egypt recently stepped up the second phase of "The Right of the Martyr" operation, dubbed “Egypt’s largest military action in North Sinai”, to fight militants in Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid.

Over 500 militants were killed in the first phase which launched on September 7 and lasted 16 days after which the army announched the launch of phase two immediately.

On Saturday, a police officer and two soldiers were killed as a result of an explosion targeting their military vehicle. Similarly on Friday, an explosion killed another police officer and wounded three soldiers.

Security forces have been engaged in a battle with insurgents in North Sinai since the military ouster of former president Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, after protests against his rule.

Aswat Masriya cannot independently verify the content of army statements. Anti-terrorism legislation imposes heavy fines on news organizations that contradict official numbers.