Egyptian security forces killed 12 terrorists Friday in western desert region of Wahat where 16 policemen have been killed one week earlier, official news agency MENA reported.

"Some 12 of very dangerous terrorist elements have been killed in today's early morning in exchanging fire with the security forces in Wahat desert road, near Wadi Al-Gadid province, some 600 km far from the capital," MENA quoted an interior ministry source as saying.

"Security forces dealt a severe blow to the terrorist elements in revenge for the blood of the men who were martyred last week in the oasis," MENA added.

The national security sector of the interior ministry was tipped information about hideouts of some terrorists inside mountainous areas, and immediately forces from the central security and public security beside Special Forces moved to arrest those militants, it added.

Once approaching the suspected area, the terrorists showered the security forces cars and exchange of fire killed 12 militants and wounded several others.

Large amount of weapons and ammunition were seized during the clashes, the report added.

A wave of terror activities that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers hit Egypt since the military ousted former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule.

On Saturday, Egyptian Interior Ministry announced that 16 policemen were killed and another was missing in shootout with terrorists on Friday in the western desert.

Terror attacks are mainly centered in the country's North Sinai, but it has in recent months spread nationwide, leaving hundreds of policemen and soldiers dead.

A militant group loyal to the regional Islamic State terrorist group has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks.

Meanwhile, security raids killed hundreds of militants and arrested a similar number of suspects as part of the country's anti-terror war.

source: Xinhua