CAIRO — Egyptian security forces killed 55 militants in Sinai on the ninth day of an operation against Islamists in the area, the military said in a statement on Tuesday.

It was not possible to independently confirm the figure.

The insurgency, mounted by ISIS’ Egyptian affiliate, has killed hundreds of soldiers and police and has started to attack Western targets within the country. In Tuesday’s fighting, two soldiers were killed, the military said.

The military had announced a new “comprehensive operation” carried out by joint units from the military and the police against militants in Sinai starting on Sept. 7.

Operation “Right of the Martyr” has so far resulted in the killing of 415 militants and the arrest of 320 people, according to daily military statements.

One officer and eight soldiers have been killed since the operation began.

Egyptian security forces killed 12 people and wounded 10 “by accident” when they mistook a convoy of mostly Mexican tourists for a group of militants they were hunting in the desert on Monday.