EL-ARISH, Egypt — Egyptian security forces killed seven suspected militants on Sunday during raids on hideouts in two villages in northern Sinai, security officials said.

Tensions in Sinai, the desert peninsula that borders Israel and the Gaza Strip, have escalated sharply over the past week after suspected militants killed 16 Egyptian soldiers near the border.

Sunday's deaths were the first reported casualties among suspected militants since Egypt launched a major offensive against the groups and sent reinforcements to the area following the attack last Sunday.