AMMAN, Jordan — Jordanian security forces killed several Islamist militants during a manhunt on Tuesday that involved hundreds of troops in the northern city of Irbid, near the border with Syria, security officials said. A police officer was also killed during the operation.

Riot police officers and special forces took part in the operation, which a security official described as one of the largest sweeps against sleeper cells of sympathizers of hard-line Islamist groups in recent years.

Another security official said the troops and helicopters were deployed mainly in a Palestinian refugee camp in the heart of the city where most of the wanted fugitives were holed up.

Jordan did not confirm the identity of the targets, but said that the security forces had killed a number of “fugitive outlaws” and wounded several others. At least three members of the security forces were wounded.