JNS.org – The Egyptian military said it has killed 24 Islamic State-affiliated terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula.

According to Egyptian security sources, the terrorists were killed as they hid in a mountainous cave, Reuters reported. Eight terrorists were also arrested.

The operation against the Islamic State terrorists came about 40 miles from the crash site of the Russian Airbus 321 airliner that crashed in the Sinai on Oct. 31, killing all 224 people aboard. Sinai-based Islamic State supporters claimed responsibility for that attack.

The Egyptian military has been battling with Islamic State-linked terrorists, who call themselves Wilayat Sinai (Province of Sinai), for the past two years.