Six Egyptian border guards were killed Thursday morning in a shootout with smugglers in the desert near Egypt's western border, the army said in a statement.
A group of armed smugglers opened fire on border guards as they were on patrol, killing two officers and four conscripts before fleeing westward, the statement said.
A number of smugglers were also killed or injured, the statement added without providing further details.
Military ground and air forces were dispatched to comb the area for the suspects.
A security source told Al-Ahram Arabic news website that the incident took place in El-Farafra Oasis, southwest of Cairo; an area notorious for smuggling activity.
The bodies of those killed have been taken to Cairo, Al-Ahram added.
