Militants hit checkpoints in Sinai

CAIRO, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Gunmen attacked seven checkpoints Friday in Sinai, Egyptian security officers said.

Sources in the security forces told Al-Masry Al-Youm there was an hourlong gun battle at the Reisa checkpoint on the road to Jordan. Traffic was halted 2 two hours there.

The attacks began Thursday night. Militants bombed a natural gas pipeline to Israel and attacked a police station in Arish in the North Sinai this week.

There have also been attacks in Israel, with eight people killed Thursday on the roads leading into the Red Sea resort of Eilat. Israeli authorities say the attackers came from Sinai, something Egypt denies.

Israeli forces pursuing suspected militants killed three Egyptian security officers.