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| Egypt bombs Islamic State targets in Libya after beheading video | Egypt bombs Islamic State targets in Libya after beheading video |
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| CAIRO —Egypt said it bombed Islamic State targets in Libya on Monday in retaliation for the extremist group’s mass beheading of Egyptian Christians on a Libyan beach, gruesome killings that threatened to ensnare Egypt into a regional conflict with the jihadists. | CAIRO —Egypt said it bombed Islamic State targets in Libya on Monday in retaliation for the extremist group’s mass beheading of Egyptian Christians on a Libyan beach, gruesome killings that threatened to ensnare Egypt into a regional conflict with the jihadists. |
| Egyptian fighter jets targeted Islamic State training camps and weapons stocks in neighboring Libya in a wave of dawn airstrikes, according to a statement from the Egyptian Armed Forces. | Egyptian fighter jets targeted Islamic State training camps and weapons stocks in neighboring Libya in a wave of dawn airstrikes, according to a statement from the Egyptian Armed Forces. |
| Libya’s air force also said Monday that it had launched raids against militants in eastern Libya in coordination with Egypt, and that the strikes had killed more than 60 militants. The chief of staff for Libya’s air force told Egyptian state television that the raids would continue into Tuesday. Egypt’s military did not specify where its strikes took place. | Libya’s air force also said Monday that it had launched raids against militants in eastern Libya in coordination with Egypt, and that the strikes had killed more than 60 militants. The chief of staff for Libya’s air force told Egyptian state television that the raids would continue into Tuesday. Egypt’s military did not specify where its strikes took place. |
| “We must take revenge for the Egyptian blood that was shed,” said the statement from Egypt’s military, which was posted along with a video of a warplane taking off at night. “Seeking retribution from murderers and criminals is our duty. Let those far and near know that Egyptians have a shield that protects them.” | “We must take revenge for the Egyptian blood that was shed,” said the statement from Egypt’s military, which was posted along with a video of a warplane taking off at night. “Seeking retribution from murderers and criminals is our duty. Let those far and near know that Egyptians have a shield that protects them.” |
| The statement marked the first time Egypt has publicly acknowledged military involvement in Libya, which has been torn apart by political chaos since an uprising that ousted longtime dictator Moammar Gaddafi in 2011. In August, U.S. intelligence officials said Egypt was carrying out strikes against Islamist groups in Libya in joint operations with the United Arab Emirates. Egypt denied those claims, however. | The statement marked the first time Egypt has publicly acknowledged military involvement in Libya, which has been torn apart by political chaos since an uprising that ousted longtime dictator Moammar Gaddafi in 2011. In August, U.S. intelligence officials said Egypt was carrying out strikes against Islamist groups in Libya in joint operations with the United Arab Emirates. Egypt denied those claims, however. |
| Islamic State militants released a horrific video Sunday of the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians who had been taken hostage in the Libyan city of Sirte in two separate incidents in December and January. | Islamic State militants released a horrific video Sunday of the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians who had been taken hostage in the Libyan city of Sirte in two separate incidents in December and January. |
| In the video, masked jihadists marched the Christians from Egypt’s Coptic minority onto a sandy beach, and forced them down to their knees before sawing off their heads. | In the video, masked jihadists marched the Christians from Egypt’s Coptic minority onto a sandy beach, and forced them down to their knees before sawing off their heads. |
| The brutal killings were portrayed as retaliation against what the video referred to as “the hostile Egyptian church.” Captions refer to Kamilia Shehata, an Egyptian Coptic woman who in 2010 was rumored to have converted to Islam before police and the church clergy isolated her. The Coptic Church in Egypt said Sunday that it had identified the men in the video as the missing Egyptians. | The brutal killings were portrayed as retaliation against what the video referred to as “the hostile Egyptian church.” Captions refer to Kamilia Shehata, an Egyptian Coptic woman who in 2010 was rumored to have converted to Islam before police and the church clergy isolated her. The Coptic Church in Egypt said Sunday that it had identified the men in the video as the missing Egyptians. |
| The footage was the first propaganda video from the Libyan branch of Islamic State, which in Iraq and Syria has declared a caliphate over a wide swath of territory under its rule. | The footage was the first propaganda video from the Libyan branch of Islamic State, which in Iraq and Syria has declared a caliphate over a wide swath of territory under its rule. |
| At least three militant groups have pledged allegiance to Islamic State in Libya, announcing “provinces” of the caliphate in the south, east and around the capital, Tripoli, in the west. Libya’s turmoil has allowed the jihadists to make inroads into several cities. | At least three militant groups have pledged allegiance to Islamic State in Libya, announcing “provinces” of the caliphate in the south, east and around the capital, Tripoli, in the west. Libya’s turmoil has allowed the jihadists to make inroads into several cities. |
| A political crisis has split Libya’s leadership and armed groups that proliferated after the uprising into two vying governments — one led by Islamists in Tripoli, and another that is recognized by the international community in Tobruk. | A political crisis has split Libya’s leadership and armed groups that proliferated after the uprising into two vying governments — one led by Islamists in Tripoli, and another that is recognized by the international community in Tobruk. |
| In the fracturing of the country after the removal of Gaddafi, Egypt has backed more secular forces aligned with former Libyan general Khalifa Hifter, who launched his own offensive against Islamist militants in the eastern city of Benghazi last spring. Egypt shares a porous 700-mile border with Libya. | In the fracturing of the country after the removal of Gaddafi, Egypt has backed more secular forces aligned with former Libyan general Khalifa Hifter, who launched his own offensive against Islamist militants in the eastern city of Benghazi last spring. Egypt shares a porous 700-mile border with Libya. |
| Reports in the Libyan media said Monday that air raids in the eastern city of Derna, a jihadist stronghold, had killed a number of people, but those reports could not immediately be verified. | Reports in the Libyan media said Monday that air raids in the eastern city of Derna, a jihadist stronghold, had killed a number of people, but those reports could not immediately be verified. |
| Videos posted on social media purported to show destroyed buildings in Derna allegedly targeted in the strikes. | Videos posted on social media purported to show destroyed buildings in Derna allegedly targeted in the strikes. |
| In a televised speech Sunday night following the killings, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi announced that he was banning all Egyptians from entering Libya and that Egypt reserved the right to respond to the beheadings, which he called an “abhorrent act of terrorism.” | In a televised speech Sunday night following the killings, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi announced that he was banning all Egyptians from entering Libya and that Egypt reserved the right to respond to the beheadings, which he called an “abhorrent act of terrorism.” |
| The White House also condemned the killings in a statement late Sunday, calling them “despicable and cowardly.” | The White House also condemned the killings in a statement late Sunday, calling them “despicable and cowardly.” |
| “We offer our condolences to the families of the victims and our support to the Egyptian government and people as they grieve for their fellow citizens,” the statement said. “ISIL’s barbarity knows no bounds.” | “We offer our condolences to the families of the victims and our support to the Egyptian government and people as they grieve for their fellow citizens,” the statement said. “ISIL’s barbarity knows no bounds.” |
| It added: “This heinous act once again underscores the urgent need for a political resolution to the conflict in Libya, the continuation of which only benefits terrorist groups, including ISIL. We call on all Libyans to strongly reject this and all acts of terrorism and to unite in the face of this shared and growing threat.” | It added: “This heinous act once again underscores the urgent need for a political resolution to the conflict in Libya, the continuation of which only benefits terrorist groups, including ISIL. We call on all Libyans to strongly reject this and all acts of terrorism and to unite in the face of this shared and growing threat.” |
| On Monday, Egypt’s foreign ministry called on the U.S.-led coalition striking the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq to take action against the militant group in Libya. Egypt has not participated in any military action against the Islamic State in Iraq or Syria since coalition strikes began in August. | On Monday, Egypt’s foreign ministry called on the U.S.-led coalition striking the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq to take action against the militant group in Libya. Egypt has not participated in any military action against the Islamic State in Iraq or Syria since coalition strikes began in August. |
| The Tripoli-based branch that claimed the beheadings also took responsibility for a deadly attack that killed 10 people, including one American, in a luxury hotel in the capital last month. | The Tripoli-based branch that claimed the beheadings also took responsibility for a deadly attack that killed 10 people, including one American, in a luxury hotel in the capital last month. |
| In the video released Sunday, the hostages wore orange jumpsuits, similar to those worn by U.S. hostages killed by the Islamic State in Syria. | In the video released Sunday, the hostages wore orange jumpsuits, similar to those worn by U.S. hostages killed by the Islamic State in Syria. |
| “The sea where Sheik Osama bin Laden’s body was hidden, we swear to Allah we will mix with your blood,” a militant wearing a brown ski mask said against a backdrop of gray storm clouds in the video. | “The sea where Sheik Osama bin Laden’s body was hidden, we swear to Allah we will mix with your blood,” a militant wearing a brown ski mask said against a backdrop of gray storm clouds in the video. |
| “We will conquer Rome with Allah’s permission,” the militant said. | “We will conquer Rome with Allah’s permission,” the militant said. |
| Last year, 1.6 million Egyptians were working mainly as menial laborers in Libya, according to the Geneva-based International Organization for Migration. About 30 percent of Egyptians working in Libya are Christians, the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms says. | |
| The Christian victims came from the southern Egyptian province of Minya — one of the most impoverished areas of Egypt. Their families had called on Egyptian authorities to do more to secure the hostages’ release. | The Christian victims came from the southern Egyptian province of Minya — one of the most impoverished areas of Egypt. Their families had called on Egyptian authorities to do more to secure the hostages’ release. |
| “The Egyptian people are shocked,” said Safwat al-Zayyat, a retired general in Egypt’s military. “But there is an attempt [by the jihadists] to drag Egypt” into war in Libya, he said. | “The Egyptian people are shocked,” said Safwat al-Zayyat, a retired general in Egypt’s military. “But there is an attempt [by the jihadists] to drag Egypt” into war in Libya, he said. |
| “We must be cautious as, as the Americans say, of putting boots on the ground.” | “We must be cautious as, as the Americans say, of putting boots on the ground.” |