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Ìýgroup militantsÌýin northernÌýÌýon ThursdayÌýbesieged vital infrastructure east of the Suez Canal.

Dozens of militants from theÌýIS affiliateÌýÌýhad been seen near power transformers inÌýIsmailia governorate'sÌýEl Qantara Sharq city which sits on the canal's eastern bank,Ìýtribal sources and eyewitnesses toldÌý°®Âþµº's Arabic-language sister service, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

The sources said the militants were locatedÌýseveral kilometres away from the canal,Ìýwhich is important to Egypt's economy and a crucial world trade route, including for fossil fuels.

The extremists had also surrounded the railway area in the city and wereÌýstopping theÌýmovement of civilians,Ìýaccording to the sources.

The police and army had started toÌýenter the area, they added.

An insurgency in ÌýNorth Sinai governorate began in 2011Ìýand worsenedÌýfollowing current President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's 2013 military coup.

IS-affiliated militantsÌýhave onÌýoccasionÌýattempted to move into areas around the Suez Canal, but have beenÌýbeaten back byÌýredoubled state security efforts.

The Egyptian military and allied tribal groupsÌýhave since March been waging a fierce military campaign against IS in several areas.

These include North Sinai's capital, Arish, and Rafah, a city bordering the blockaded Palestinian Gaza Strip.

The campaign has restored control over areas where militants had been present for many years.