CAIRO, Jan 28 (Aswat Masriya) - Military spokesperson announced on Saturday that 20 militants were killed, and others injured during a number of security raids over the past five days.

The spokesperson added in an official statement that the armed forces also managed to arrest 24 militants.

Meanwhile, a bomb explosion during the raids killed two officers and two conscripts, according to the statement.

North Sinai militants have stepped up attacks targeting security forces since the military ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July 2013 after mass protests against his rule.

The state of emergency has been extended for three months at a time since it was initially declared by Sisi in October 2014 in reaction to a militant attack that killed 33 security personnel.