Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Monday said airstrikes carried out by the Egyptian military on Libya were part of his country's right to self-defense.
"Following the video that was released, a striking and accurate reaction was needed," Shoukry said, in reference to footage released by takfiri group ISIS showing the grisly execution of 21 Coptic Christian hostages.
"They [the airstrikes] are part of Egypt's right to self-defense in order to protect our children," he said, "this is a matter that needs to be understood."
Shoukry's statements came after Egypt's military carried out a series of airstrikes against ISIS targets in Libya in retaliation for the slaughter of the Egyptian Christians.
Shoukry said Egypt always had "an important role in fighting [ISIS]" given its regional positioning, its military capabilities as well as its religious institutions.
Egypt is not officially a member of the U.S.-led coalition charged with combating ISIS in Iraq and Syria, but it has called on the alliance to broaden the scope of their operations to include Libya.
Shoukry also said that the presence of terror groups such as ISIS in the region is preventing stability in the area.
The latest killings in Libya highlight the growing presence of the extremist group in North Africa.
The 21 Egyptian Christians were reportedly kidnapped in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte in two separate incidents in December and January.
They were reportedly from impoverished villages and went to Libya looking for work.
source : www.abna.ir
