A Jordanian security officer was killed during clashes near a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Jordan on Tuesday, Arabic-language media is reporting.

According to the reports, a gunfight broke out between a Jordanian special forces unit conducting an operation in the area and Islamist militants, with further reports of several deaths among the militants.

The security forces were allegedly carrying out a massive manhunt, according to Reuters, one of the largest such operations against Islamist sleeper cells in the country in the last few years.

The Jordanian security forces disconnected the electricity in the area before moving in, reports said. The operation was continuing into the night, after several hours of ongoing clashes.

An additional two police officers were wounded in the operation, according to Arabic media reports.

Helicopters were also deployed in the operation, Reuters says.

Further reports said that checkpoints had been set up on the route from capital Amman to Irbid.

This is a developing story