The Egyptian police on Tuesday killed at least 13 terrorists during a shootout in Arish city of restive North Sinai province northeast of the capital Cairo, a security source told Xinhua.

The source explained that the police raided an under-construction house in a village in Arish where the 13 militants hid and the fire exchange took place.

"The violent clashes killed 13 terrorists from the so-called Wilayat Sinai (Sinai state or province) group, the Egyptian arm of the Islamic State (IS) regional terrorist group," he added.

The police found four machine guns, two shotguns, three explosive devices and ammunition in their possession.

Bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, North Sinai province has been the center of terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers, as well as civilians, following the military ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests.

Most of the terror operations were carried out by Wilayat Sinai, the IS affiliate in Egypt.

In February, Egypt started the comprehensive "Sinai 2018" anti-terror campaign that killed over 330 militants and more than 30 soldiers so far.