The Egyptian army killed ten members of a “terrorist cell" in the Bahariya Oasis on Monday, a statement by the army spokesman read.The army used commandos and air forces, along with anti-terrorism police, in their offensive against the terrorist cell, according to the statement, which was published on the spokesman's official Facebook page.
The cell was planning to execute terrorist and criminal acts against vital targets and foreign interests during the Eid vacation, scheduled to take place from 23 to 27 September, the statement added.
One militant in the cell was injured in the attack and has since been taken into custody.
The army said they discovered the cell based on "accurate intelligence information."
Egypt's army is fighting a decade-long militant insurgency in North Sinai that has spiked in the last two years.
However, security forces have also warned of militant activity in other parts of the country, particularly in the Western Desert which covers much of western Egypt.
Last week, eight Mexican tourists and four Egyptians were killed in the Western Desert, close to the Bahariya Oasis, by a joint police-military force that mistook them for militants.
Security officials said the tourists were in a "restricted area"and have promised a full investigation.
The Bahariya Oasis area is a well-known touristic area, popular for visitors who want to explore nearby attractions such as the White and Black Desert. It is located around 365km south-west of Cairo.
The army's Monday offensive is part of the "Martyr's Right" campaign, now in its 15th day, which is said to be the army's largest and most comprehensive operation aimed at rooting out terrorism.
