The clash took place late on Tuesday when militants attacked forces stationed southwest of the city of Arish, the ministry said in a statement. Islamic State claimed the attack, saying it had carried out simultaneous raids on military positions in Arish, according to a statement carried on the group's Amaq news agency. Security sources said the militants had used more than 10 four-wheel vehicles in coordinated attacks at four sites. Egyptian security forces have been battling Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula for years and launched a counter-insurgency campaign in the area in February 2018. Earlier this month militants attacked a checkpoint in North Sinai, an assault that left eight security personnel dead according to the interior ministry