CAIRO, Jan. 4 (Aswat Masriya) - Security forces based in North Sinai killed a total of 29 militants and arrested four suspects in an exchange of fire in Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid, the army spokesman said Monday.

The security crackdown comes as part of the “Martyr’s Right” operation dubbed by the military as “Egypt’s largest military action in North Sinai” to fight militants.

The operation has been going on since early September, passing through its first and second phases. The military's account of the operation indicates that hundreds of "terrorists" have been killed as well as a few security personnel.

Aswat Masriya could not independently verify the content of the army statement. Anti-terrorism legislation imposes heavy fines on news organisations that contradict official statements.

North Sinai militants have stepped up attacks targeting security forces since the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July 2013 after mass protests against his rule.

Since October 2014, Sinai has been under a state of emergency, which was subjected to repeated renewals, following a terrorist attack that resulted in the death of 33 soldiers. The attack was then claimed by ISIS-affiliated "Sinai Province".