Egyptian army and police launched on Friday a huge security operation against “terrorist and criminal elements and organizations” across Egypt, according to Reuters news agency.

Spokesperson of the army said that the operation covers areas in Sinai, the Western Desert and the Delta.

The operation comes a three-month deadline was put by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi to defeat the years-long terrorism caused by the Islamist groups in Sinai.

The operation will restrict the country control over the crossing points with neighboring countries such as the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

Residents around Sinai were reported hearing air activities.

“The armed forces calls upon the Egyptian people in all parts of the country to closely cooperate with law enforcement forces to confront terrorism, uproot it and immediately report any elements threatening the security and stability of the country,” the spokesman, Colonel Tamer al-Rifai, said in a televised address.