Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman said more than 40 suspected
Islamic State (IS) militants in Libya were killed early Monday in Egyptian
airstrikes.
He said this was in revenge for the killing of 21 Egyptian
Coptic Christians who had been kidnapped in the Libyan city of Sirte.The spokesman said after the operation in Libya, that the
warplanes struck the group’s camps, places of gathering and training, and
weapons depots in Libya.“Let those far and near know that Egyptians have a shield to
protect and safeguard the security of the country and a sword that amputates
terrorism and extremism,” he said.
It was the first time Egypt has publicly confirmed launching
airstrikes against the group in neighboring Libya, where extremist groups,
threatening both countries, have grown rapidly following the ouster of Libyan
leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.President Abdel al-Sisi has repeatedly said
militants based in Libya pose a serious security threat to Egypt.The 21 Egyptian Christians, who had gone to Libya in search
of jobs, were marched to a beach, forced to kneel and then beheaded, the video
showed.Sisi, said hours after the release of the video on late
Sunday, that Egypt would choose the “necessary means and timing to avenge
the criminal killings.”
After the early morning Libya operation on Monday, Sisi paid
a visit to the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo to mourn the victims.Egypt on Sunday declared a seven-day period of mourning for
the victims.Libya’s air force, meanwhile, announced that it had launched
strikes in the eastern city of Darna, an extremist base that was taken over by
an IS affiliate last year.
Via: AFP/Getty Images/CNN/Tauseef Mustafa
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