A senior Israeli diplomat accused Iran of being behind an attack in Sinai that left 16 Egyptian security guards dead.

“Iranian-backed terrorists again struck at our Southern border today, killing 15 Egyptian guards and attempting to massacre Israeli civilians. Terrorists also shelled Israeli farms and towns along the border,” Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren wrote on Facebook, using an earlier count of the number of guards killed.

“The thwarted attack underscores the length to which the extremist regime in Iran will attempt to kill innocent Israelis,” he added.

The assailants also seized two military vehicles and attempted to cross the border.

Israel said its aircraft fired on one of the commandeered vehicles and that the other exploded at the border crossing. Some of the gunmen were killed by Israeli forces combing the border, the Israeli army said.