The soldier, a conscript, died when a gunbattle broke outbetween the army and members of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, meaning"Supporters of Jerusalem", during the operation in an area southof Rafah, in North Sinai.
Attacks on soldiers and policemen in the Sinai, whichborders Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, have becomecommonplace since the Egyptian army ousted Islamist PresidentMohamed Morsi in July in the face of mass unrest over his rule.
Two of the group's fighters were arrested in the raid, thesources said. Eight other soldiers, including an officer, werewounded in the fighting.
The group claimed responsibility for a September suicidebomb attack in Cairo targeting the interior minister. Hesurvived unscathed.