Egypt says its security forces have killed eight militants in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula, two days after a deadly attack killed several police.

The Interior Ministry issued a statement Friday saying it had received information about insurgents hiding in an olive farm south of the city of el-Arish. While hunting them down, a shootout ensued killing the militants, who had in their possession five automatic rifles, a bomb and two explosive belts, according to the statement cited by the official MENA news agency.

On Thursday, Egypt announced the killing of 14 militants linked to Wednesday's attack that left eight policemen killed near el-Arish. The Islamic state had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Egypt has battled Islamic militants for years in northern Sinai, where the IS affiliate is based.