Deadly attacks mostly targeting security forces have been concentrated in North Sinai, the epicenter of an insurgency seeking to topple the Cairo government, though blasts have occurred across the country in the past two years.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Militants based in North Sinai have killed hundreds of soldiers and police since the army toppled president Mohamed Mursi in 2013 following mass protests against his rule, Reuters reported.

Sinai is home to Egypt's most dangerous  group, Sinai Province. Formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, the organization has pledged allegiance to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the ultra-hardline Sunni group which controls large parts of Iraq and Syria.

Six soldiers were also wounded in Tuesday's attack, the security sources said.