The Egyptian interior ministry has said security forces in Egypt have mistakenly killed 12 people, including Mexican tourists during an anti-terror operation, BBC reported Monday morning that the tourists were travelling in four buses that entered a "banned area" in the Wahat area of the Western Desert, the ministry said in a statement.

Ten Mexicans and Egyptians were also injured and are being treated in a local hospital, according to reports. BBC cited Egyptian interior ministry as saying it had formed a team to investigate the incident. The army operation reportedly comes a day after militants claiming to be affiliated to the Islamic State group said they were present in the desert near the Libyan border.

BBC says the region is popular with tourists, but is also believed to be a militant hideout.