Cairo, Jan 21 (Aswat Masriya) – Four alleged "terrorists" were killed and 27 people were arrested in military operations in the Sinai Peninsula, the armed forces spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday.

Spokesman Mohamed Samir said "raids against terrorists" were carried out on Monday and Tuesday, leaving the four "terrorists" dead after "an exchange of gunfire" with security forces.

Those arrested include 16 wanted individuals and 11 suspects.

The military operations also involved the destruction of dozens of headquarters and meeting points, used by "terrorists". The armed forces spokesman said these locations included nine which were hidden underground.

Militants have escalated attacks targeting security forces in Egypt, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula, since the army's ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, which came after mass protests against his rule. 

On Tuesday, an officer and two conscripts were injured when an explosive device detonated in North Sinai.

The deadliest militant attack since Mursi's ouster left at least 30 military personnel dead, in a suicide operation which targeted a security checkpoint in Sinai's Sheikh Zuweid on October 24, 2014.