Egypt air strikes target Libya

Asset image/ Rex Features

A day after the ISIS militants claimed through a brutal video that they had beheaded 21 Egyptian Christians, Egypt targeted the ISIS locations in Libya, with its jets bombing them. The initial strikes happened at the dawn and targeted camps, training sites and weapons storage areas in the militant occupied area. The second attack, reportedly took place some hours later.

Libyan officials claimed that Derna city, captured and occupied by the ISIS militants for a long time now, was hit by Egypt. It is learnt that Libya too, had joined these air strikes on Monday. The attack was carried out amid much condemnation for the mass beheading of the 21 Egyptians, all of whom belonged to the Coptic Christian community.

Egypt has already declared a 7-day national mourning for the 21 victims and called on the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria to broaden the scope of their operations to include Libya, highlighting how the militant group has expanded its reach around the Arab world.

(With inputs from BBC and Reuters.)

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About Suyash Karangutkar

Suyash Karangutkar is a young, dedicated and an enthusiastic journalist who has a deep interest in National and International Affairs. He is an ardent political spectator who finds politics fascinating. At Spectralhues, he heads the Mumbai team and covers National Affairs & Politics. He also occasionally writes columns for Spectralhues. He can be followed on Twitter @columnistsuyash