Egypt bombs IS in Libya after beheadings video

[Anthea]

BBC News

Islamic State: Egyptian Christians held in Libya 'killed'

A video has emerged purportedly showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians who had been kidnapped by Islamic State (IS) in Libya.

The footage shows a group wearing orange overalls, being forced to the ground and then decapitated.

It was posted online by Libyan jihadists who say they are allied with IS.

Egypt's president had earlier this week offered to airlift Egyptian expatriates out of Libyan territory.

The kidnapped Egyptian workers, all Coptic Christians, were seized from the coastal town of Sirte in eastern Libya, now under the control of Islamist groups.

On Friday, IS released pictures of the Egyptians, saying they had been kidnapped to avenge the fate of Muslim women "tortured and murdered by the Coptic church of Egypt".

Egypt's government has warned people not to travel to Libya, but many go there looking for work.

There had been demonstrations in Egypt calling on the government to do more to secure the release of those held.

Estimates as to the number of Copts living in Egypt today range from about nine million to 15 million out of a total population of about 87 million.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-31481797

[Anthea]

In a move meant to go straight to the heart of western civilization, the Islamic State (aka ISIS/ISIL) has released a video which appears to show 21 Egyptian Christians being violently beheaded.

The video is strictly in English and looks like it takes place on the Mediterranean Coast (some reports this is near Tripoli, Libya).

The video becomes the latest released by the terror group showing the atrocities they are willing to commit to further their agenda.

The video shows a bloody coastline along with the quote of “The sea you threw in Osama Bin Laden’s body, we will mix it with your blood”



ISIS currently controls land in Syria and Iraq that is comparable in size to the country of Belgium according to some experts. Millions of people are estimated to live under ISIS laws and control. The group is thought to be making over $10 million per week in oil revenue alone.

http://controversialtimes.com/news/brea ... new-video/

[Anthea]

BBC News

Egypt bombs IS in Libya after beheadings video

Egypt says it has bombed Islamic State targets in Libya, hours after the group published video showing the apparent beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians.

State TV said the dawn strikes had targeted camps, training sites and weapons storage areas.

Libyan officials said Egypt had hit targets in the militant-held city of Derna in co-ordination with Libya.

A video emerged on Sunday showing militants forcing a group of men to the ground and decapitating them.

IS militants claim to have carried out several attacks in Libya, which is in effect without a government.

The kidnapped Egyptian workers, all Coptic Christians, were seized in separate incidents in December and January from the coastal town of Sirte in eastern Libya, under the control of Islamist groups.

The video of the beheadings was posted online by Libyan jihadists who pledge loyalty to IS. It was one of the first such videos to come from an IS group outside its core territory in Syria and Iraq.

The video describes the Copts as "crusaders" and refers among other things to two women, wives of Coptic priests, whose alleged conversion to Islam triggered a sectarian dispute in Egypt in 2010.

Egypt did not give the locations of the strikes, but a spokesman for Libyan Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni told the BBC that Egyptian jets had taken part in co-ordinated air strikes on Derna.

"Eight strikes have been conducted so far [in Derna]. The plan is to target all IS locations in the country wherever they are," said Mohamed Azazza.

Libyan Air force commander Saqer al-Joroushi told Reuters news agency that Libyan planes had bombed targets in Sirte and Bin Jawad.

Full Article - Video - Photos:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-31483631