Army and police forces arrested 36 "terrorist elements" and confiscated large amounts of arms and ammunition on Thursday, the Armed Forces' spokesman has said.

In cooperation with police forces, Egypt's Armed Forces are launching a security crackdown on Sinai following the escalating activities of armed militants in the area after former President Mohamed Mursi was removed from power.

On his Facebook page, the spokesman said that 25 "dangerous militants" and others accused of attacking army and police checkpoints in Sinai.

Eight others suspected of involvement in carrying out a number of terrorist operations were arrested as well, the spokesman added.

Three smuggling tunnels during raids on several areas where criminal hide in Arish, Rafah, Sheikh Zoueid, and Ber al-Abd, he explained.