The Egyptian military has demolished 13 homes along the Gaza Strip border for the possible creation of a buffer zone they hope will reduce weapons smuggling and illegal crossings by militants, Belfast Telegraph said.

Northern Sinai government officials said the military envisions creating a house-free zone with no trees 500 yards wide and six miles long starting at the Rafah border crossing. The officials said the homes with tunnels underneath them were bulldozed over the last 10 days as a test of the idea.

The Egyptian military has closed much of the once-bustling tunnel system, but some remain at the 15-kilometre (9-mile) stretch of border.