Six international peacekeepers hurt in Egypt bombings, IS involvement suspected

The peacekeepers, part of a force that monitors a 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, are based in the North Sinai region.

The bombings were also confirmed by US Defence Department.

“We are aware that four US and two Multinational Force and Observer (MFO) peacekeepers were injured (Thursday) in two IED explosions in northeast Sinai,” US Defence Department spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said in a statement.

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The nationalities of the other two could not be ascertained immediately.

Davis said the MFO evacuated the soldiers by air to a medical facility where all were being provided treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

Twelve countries, including Australia, Britain and Canada and the United States, contribute troops to the mission.

Egypt’s North Sinai has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled president Hosni Mubarak.