Egyptian authorities have enacted new rules that ban their countrymen from travelling to Turkey without a permit, a move intended to stem terrorist recruitment, Egyptian airport officials told The Associated Press (AP) on Saturday.

According to the officials, Egyptians aged 18-40 now need to apply for security clearance in central Cairo ahead of departure to Turkey. Over 200 people have been barred over the past 24 hours.

Interior Ministry spokesman Hany Abdel-Latif said the new measure was an effort to prevent Egyptians from travelling through Turkey to join terrorist groups in Syria.

Security officials estimate that hundreds of Egyptians are fighting alongside terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

Airport officials say Egyptians already need prior permission to travel to Syria, Iraq and Jordan. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

So far, more than 15,000 foreign nationals are known to have entered Syria and Iraq to join the ranks of the Islamic State (ISIS).

Over 1,000 French citizens have reportedly left to join ISIS and there are also recruits coming from, among others, Russia, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Egypt last week designated ISIS and its affiliates as terrorist organizations and banned them in the country.