Hostile vessels opened fire on a navy boat while it was on patrol, said the military spokesperson’s office on Wednesday.
The navy sent backup forces, and there was an exchange of gunfire that left a navy boat on fire. The forces destroyed three hostile boats and arrested 20 people.
The navy boat was on patrol 40 miles north of the port of Damietta when the hostile boats opened fire from several directions.
Attacks between on the security forces have escalated in Egypt following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.