Egyptian security forces launched air strikes in northern Sinai peninsula killing at least 20 militants, officials said on Friday. The air strikes were apparently in response to suicide bombing attack in the northern Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid on Thursday that killed two including a soldier. According to a Associated Press report quoting Egyptian security officials, the Egyptian forces hit more than 100 mountainous hideouts of militant groups in the city of El-Arish and the small town of Bir al-Abd on Friday. A day earlier, militants beheaded four people and kidnapped a fifth in Bir Al-Abd, after accusing them of cooperating with security forces. Daesh (the so-called IS) claimed responsibility for both attacks. — Agencies