18 soldiers injured by roadside bomb in Egypt's Al-Arish

The attack was claimed by Sinai Province Islamist militant group

An Egyptian military vehicle is seen on the highway in northern Sinai, Egypt

A roadside bomb exploded early Sunday on a coastal road in North Sinai's Al-Arish, injuring 18 soldiers, security sources told . 

The attack was claimed by Sinai Province Islamist militant group, an affiliate of the Islamic state group.

Sources said all soldiers were transferred to Al-Arish hospital with "moderate" injuries. 

Security forces surrounded the road with a cordon following the bombing. 

Heavy gunshot by security forces followed the explosion, according to local residents. 

Sinai Province Islamist militant group, formerly known as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in the peninsula.

In a similar attack, two security personnel were injured on Friday in a North Sinai bombing, hours after the army announced it had killed 12 “terrorists” in Sheikh Zuweid.

The decade-long militant insurgency in North Sinai has intensified in the past two years, with hundreds of army and police personnel killed.

The army has also announced the killing of hundreds of militants.

Sinai Province Islamist militant group, formerly known as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in the peninsula.

In November 2014, Sinai Province pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group that controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq.

A state of emergency has been imposed in North Sinai for the past ten months following a deadly attack that left 31 soldiers dead.