5 soldiers killed in attacks on Egypt army in Sinai

CAIRO: Twin blasts on Wednesday targeting Egypt's army killed at least five soldiers in the restive Sinai peninsula, where the military is battling militants, security officials said.

"A large explosion" targeted the military intelligence headquarters in Rafah on the border with the Gaza Strip, one official said.

Minutes later, a second explosion hit an army checkpoint nearby.

Four soldiers were killed and 13 injured in the first attack, while one soldier died and six were hurt at the checkpoint, officials said.

Witnesses said the first blast shattered the windows of buildings in Rafah's Imam Ali area.

The military intelligence headquarters is located in a high-security military zone and surrounded by checkpoints, sources in Rafah said.

The Rafah border crossing -- the only gateway into the Palestinian enclave that bypasses Israel -- was shut and all roads in and out of the town were closed as armed forces combed the area for suspects.