Seven Egyptian soldiers were released onr week after being captured in the Sinai Peninsula by suspected jihadists, state-run television said Wednesday.
Army spokesman Ahmed Mohammed said the release was made possible by "efforts made by the Egyptian military intelligence service and tribal leaders" in Sinai, dpa reported.
The fate of the kidnappers themselves was not clear.
They were reportedly jihadists in Sinai seeking the release of imprisoned relatives or associates.
The release came after Egyptian armoured vehicles backed by air support converged on villages near the Israeli border where the captors were suspected to be in hiding.
Local media had reported ongoing efforts by Islamist groups to persuade the kidnappers to release the conscripts.
The vast desert area has been hit by security problems since a revolt deposed former Egyptian president Hosny Mubarak more than two years ago.