RAFAH, Egypt: An Egyptian security official says that a US military delegation is setting up tunnel detection equipment to counter smuggling on the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip.

The delegation, which includes engineers, is also training Egyptian border guards to use the equipment, the official added on condition on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

The US embassy in Cairo confirmed that a team was currently in Egypt working with their local counterparts on counter-tunneling.

Israel has long complained about tunnels between Egypt and Gaza for smuggling weapons, drugs and other contraband across the border.