Five militants killed in Sinai clashes

Five militants were killed after clashes with Egyptian security forces inthe northern Sinai city of el-Arish.

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said an army captain was killed in Wednesday's fighting in olive orchards near the airport.

The clashes came a day after a missile hit the airport during a previously unannounced visit to el-Arish by Defense Minister Sedki Sobhy and Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar, who is in charge of police.

Egyptian security forces have battled extremist militants in the northern region of the Sinai Peninsula.

The Egyptian military is battling a years-long extremist insurgency in North Sinai, which has left hundreds dead.