JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says a soldier was killed in a shootout with militants along the Israel-Egypt border.

Israeli troops shot and killed three militants who attempted to infiltrate the country on Friday, thwarting an attack.

Military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich says the militants were also wearing explosive belts when they opened fire on troops guarding a team of workers building a border fence between Israel and Egypt's lawless Sinai desert.

The Israeli troops returned fire, killing the militants. The military says an Israeli soldier was shot in the head during the gunbattle and later died of his wounds.