Egyptian armed forces have arrested 12 Islamist militants believed to have been planning a "major attack" in central Sinai, the army said in a statement on Saturday.

The militants were having a meeting when the army raided their hideout in central Sinai province, said Tamer el-Refai, spokesperson of the armed forces.

The 12 militants, who are deemed as the most dangerous terrorists in Sinai, have been plotting a major attack against the security forces, the statement added.

The forces also confiscated 12 cell phones and seven four-wheel drive cars during the raid.

Egyptian police killed four Islamist militants Friday in a shootout near Cairo.

Egypt has been battling waves of terrorist attacks, centered mainly in North Sinai since the military removal of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to nation-wide protests against his rule.

However, some of the attacks have extended to Cairo and other cities.

The attacks that targeted hundreds of police and military men have also killed dozens of civilians.

The Islamic State group's affiliate in Sinai Peninsula claimed responsibility for most of the attacks.

Source: Xinhua