Egyptian police kill 11 'terrorists' in shootout

The ministry statement said bodies of the suspected militants were still being identified in the raid in the Ismailiya province. Police claim the suspected militants opened fire on security forces approaching them.

Egypt is still reeling from the horrific militant attack on a mosque in northern Sinai that killed 305 people on Friday – the deadliest assault by extremists in its modern history.

Survivors and Egypt's top prosecutor gave accounts of the massacre that unfolded as more than two dozen assailants, carrying a black IS banner, unleashed gunfire and explosions during Friday prayers at the Al-Rawdah Mosque in a sleepy village by the same name near the small town of Bir al-Abd.

The attack targeted a mosque frequented by Sufis, members of a mystic movement within Islam. IS militants consider Sufis heretics because of their less literal interpretations of the faith.

Police said in a statement they were pursuing "leaders of terrorist groups in North Sinai that aimed to carry out a series of hostile operations targeting important and vital buildings and Christian churches."

"Security forces were able to identify "a group of these elements and the hideouts they were using to hide, train, and store means of logistic support ahead of smuggling them to terrorist groups in North Sinai."

The statement added that six suspected militants had been arrested, and weapons, ammunition and communication devices were recovered.

Sinai has long been sidelined by the central government and neglected. Aggressive military operations have been conducted in the past and its native population alienated.