ISIS insurgents attacked several military checkpoints in Egypt's North Sinai Wednesday in a co-ordinated assault that killed more than 100 people -- one of the biggest militant strikes in Egypt's modern history.

Egypt's armed forces said that at least 100 militants and 17 soldiers had been killed.

One security source said about 300 militants, armed with heavy weapons and anti-aircraft weaponry, had taken part in the attacks while the army said five checkpoints were hit and the fighting had raged for more than eight hours.

Security sources said the militants had planned to lay siege to the town of Sheikh Zuweid.

Security sources said militants had surrounded a police station in Sheikh Zuweid and had planted bombs around it to prevent forces from leaving.

The militants also planted bombs along a road between Sheikh Zuweid and al-Zuhour army camp to prevent the movement of any army supplies or reinforcements.

In April, the army extended by three months a state of emergency imposed in parts of Sinai.

...