Egyptian armed forces retaliate quickly over a video showing the execution of 21 Egyptian men
- 21 men beheaded on a beach in Libya
- Egyptian airstrikes over north east Libya
- Libyan forces participated in bombing against Isis affiliates
Egyptian state television has confirmed that the armed forces have bombed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) affiliated targets in Libya, following a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians.
In a statement aired on both state television and radio, the armed forces said the attacks were carried out shortly after dawn on Monday.
The statement also said that the air strikes focused on training sites and weapons storage areas in the north east of Libya near the Egyptian border.
The 21 men were kidnapped from the coastal town of Sirte in eastern Libya in December 2014. It is understood they were targeted because of their faith.
Protests have been taking place in the past few weeks across Egypt calling for the government to do more to ensure the release of the men and many have blamed the authorities for not doing enough.
In a public speech before the airstrikes, president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said, Egypt reserves the right to respond in a suitable way and time to punish these murderers.
The video, which was released on Sunday, shows the killing of the hostages on a beach in Libya. The five-minute clip is filmed in a similar way to other videos published by Isis militants in Syria and Iraq.
Egyptian state television also confirmed that Libyan planes associated with the internationally recognised government also took part in the bombing.
More air strikes will be carried out today and tomorrow in coordination with Egypt, commander Saqer al-Joroushi told al-Arabiya television.
Libya has slowly spiralled into chaos following the removal of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and in recent month several Islamist groups have battled for control against the two rival governments.
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