Security officials in Egypt say its military helicopters have fired missiles on suspected Islamist militants near the town of Al-Arish, in the Sinai peninsula.
The state-run Ahram news website says the attack came hours after militants opened fire on three security checkpoints in the town, which is near the border between Israel and Gaza.
The BBC reports about 20 people were killed in Touma village, while the Sheikh Zuwaid area to the west was also hit.
