CAIRO, July 3 (Aswat Masriya) - Police and army forces killed 17 militant extremists in a series of crackdowns in North Sinai on Thursday, an army spokesman said.

A crackdown aiming to purge Bab Sidot area south of Rafah from armed militants eliminated 12 elements, said Mohamed Samir.

Three other elements were killed in Wefak Village south of Rafah while trying to plant bombs in the area, Samir stated.

Two were also killed as they rode a motorbike while carrying two bombs, he added.

The spokesman said that "three other extremist elements were also arrested in Sheikh Zoueid".

Egypt's army, in cooperation with the police, has been launching crackdowns across the country to eliminate armed pro-Muslim Brotherhood elements that have been targeting security forces since former President Mohamed Mursi's ouster last July.