Egypt's army said on Thursday that 10 soldiers were either killed or wounded in a blast targeting an armoured vehicle in the restive northern Sinai. 

The attack left 10 soldiers including an officer either killed or wounded, army spokesman Tamer al-Rifai said.

"An explosive device went off hitting an armoured vehicle south the city of Bir al-Abd (in North Sinai)," he added.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Egyptian security forces have for years been fighting to contain an insurgency in the region, spearheaded by a local affiliate of the Islamic State group.

The Islamist insurgency has intensified following the military's 2013 ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. 

Scores of soldiers and police were killed in militant attacks especially in the turbulent region over the years. 

In February 2018, Egyptian security forces launched a nationwide, large-scale operation against militants, mainly focused on the turbulent North Sinai region.  

More than 845 suspected militants have been killed in the region along with more than 60 security personnel, according to army figures.