An Egyptian security official says a border guard has been killed while patrolling the frontier with Israel.

The officials say Magdi Abdellah Hamza was shot in his neck early Monday while on duty, the official said on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the media.

The official said an investigation is underway.

Security is tight along porous border area where local Bedouins engage in drug, weapons and human trafficking.

Tensions have been rising in Egypt in recent days after the country's security forces arrested dozens of Hizbullah activists who were allegedly involved in smuggling weapons to Sinai and planning terror attacks.