Egypt Launches Air Strikes on IS in Libya in Response to Beheadings

A handout made available by the Office of the Egyptian President shows Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C). Photo: EPA

Egypt launched air strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in Libya in response to a video purporting to show the execution of 21 Egyptian Christians.

The air strikes, which were carried several hours after the release of the video, targeted training sites, camps and weapon storage areas, the BBC reports.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said that his country is against extremist groups and has the right to respond to their inhumane acts.

A video was released on Sunday showing a group of people wearing orange overalls, who were forced to the ground and beheaded.

Egyptian workers were kidnapped in December and January from the coastal town of Sirte in eastern Libya, which is under the control of IS militants.

The video, which is believed to depict the beheading of the kidnapped Egyptians, was released by Libyan jihadists, who pledge loyalty to IS.

The Coptic Church condemned the execution and declared seven days of national mourning in Egypt.

Since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been in political turmoil with several groups fighting to seize power.

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