Egypt jihadists kill 15 soldiers in Sinai

Jihadists in Egypt's Sinai killed 15 soldiers and two civilians in attacks on checkpoints yesterday, security officials said, the deadliest in months despite a massive army campaign against the insurgents. The gunmen, believed to be members of the Islamic State group's Egypt branch, simultaneously opened fire with assault rifles and grenade launchers at five checkpoints in the restive north of the peninsula, the security officials said.