Militants shell house in Sinai, killing 5 civilians

CAIRO, Egypt — Egyptians security officials said militants in northern Sinai shelled a house near a security checkpoint, killing an entire family of five members inside it and wounding nine of their neighbors.

The officials said the Tuesday morning attack happened in the restive town of Sheikh Zuweid in the Sinai Peninsula. They said the security checkpoint appeared to be the intended target.

Medical officials said three children were among those killed. The wounded were taken to the town hospital for treatment. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to reporters.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Egypt is facing a growing insurgency in northern Sinai where an Islamic State affiliate has claimed responsibility for scores of deadly attacks targeting security forces.

Last month five Egyptian civilians were killed when a mortar round hit a house in a north Sinai village.

It was not immediately clear who fired the projectile, which also wounded four people. Both soldiers and militants use mortars in skirmishes.

AFP contributed to this report.