Egypt launches air strikes on IS after the murder of 21 Christian hostages

 
Revenge: Egyptian fighter jets bombed Islamic State targets to “avenge the bloodshed” (Picture: AFP Photo / HO / AL-Masriya TV)
AFP PHOTO / HO / AL-MASRIYA TV
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Egyptian fighter jets today bombed Islamic State targets to “avenge the bloodshed” after the terrorist group released a video appearing to show the beheading of 21 hostages.

Warplanes attacked weapons stores and training camps in Libya after IS posted a video showing the victims, all Egyptian Coptic Christians kidnapped in the Libyan city of Sirte, wearing orange overalls and being forced to the floor before being decapitated.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond branded the murders “barbaric” amid concerns they signalled a new IS front on the Mediterranean coast.

The Egyptian strikes came after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said his country had a “right to respond” against IS.

IS seized the Christian workers in December and January in Sirte, which is now under the control of Islamist groups.

Libya’s air force was also reported to have carried out strikes in the city of Darna, seized by an IS affiliate last year.

Mr Hammond said: “Such barbaric acts strengthen our determination to work with our partners to counter the expanding terrorist threat to Libya and the region.

“Acts of terrorism should not be allowed to undermine Libya’s political transition.

“We remain fully supportive of the UN’s efforts to build a national unity government for Libya and to bring a political solution to the ongoing security crisis.

“Those who support terrorists can have no part in this process.”

The developments have raised fears that IS is now a firm presence in a country less than 500 miles from the southern most tip of Italy.

In the beheading video a militant suggests the group now plans to “conquer Rome”.

Italy has closed its embassy in Tripoli and stepped up calls for a UN mission to Libya to calm the conflict, as thousands of migrants are fleeing across the Mediterranean by boat.

Libya has been in turmoil since Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011, with two rival governments and a variety of militia groups battling for turf.

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