Egypt's president made an unannounced visit to the Sinai Peninsula on Saturday to rally troops following a wave of deadly jihadist attacks on security forces, his office said.

"President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is inspecting troops and police in the North Sinai," his office said without specifying where in the restive province.

Sisi's government called in air strikes on Wednesday after a spectacular attack by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant terrorists in the North Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid left dozens dead.

The army said 17 soldiers and 100 militants had been killed. But medical and security officials said the death toll was at least 70 people -- mostly soldiers -- as well as dozens of militants.

On Saturday a shell slammed into a house in Sheikh Zuweid, killing a woman and two children, medical and security sources said. It was unclear which side fired the shell.