This article originally appeared at BBC:
A suspected jihadist car bomb has killed at least 26 Egyptian soldiers at a checkpoint in Sinai, officials say.
The attack took place near El Arish, the main town in the north of the restive peninsula. Three more died in a shooting in the town itself.
The bomb blast is one of the deadliest attacks in Sinai for months. At least 28 more people were injured.
The army has been fighting a campaign against Sinai-based militants, who have carried out a string of attacks there.
The area has become increasingly lawless since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011.
Militants further stepped up their attacks after Islamist President Mohammed Morsi was ousted by the army last year.
Security forces have been carrying out an offensive in northern Sinai, killing and capturing dozens of suspected members of jihadist groups.
Many of the casualties from the bomb blast were ferried to Cairo by helicopter.
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