Two Egyptian soldiers were killed and 16 wounded by a roadside bomb today (Saturday), Associated Press reports. A northern Sinai branch of ISIS has taken responsibility for the attack.

The interior ministry states that the explosion occurred in the provincial capital of el-Arish, when a parked car blew up as a vehicle carrying soldiers passed.

The Egyptian government has been cracking down on Islamist groups in Sinai, particularly ISIS and Hamas. The measures taken include evicting residents along the border with Gaza, flooding the area to destroy tunnels, and extended military operations.

The army frequently announces that it has killed more terrorists, though attacks against security forces and civilians have not significantly abated.