Horror: A new video has been released by ISIS showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians
Egypt
launched airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Libya this morning as
it 'seeks retribution' for the barbaric filmed beheading of 21 Coptic
Christians.
There
were at least seven strikes in Derna in the east of the country, which
has become a hotbed of Islamic extremism since Libyan dictator Muammar
Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011.
It
is the first time Egypt has announced military action against Islamist
targets in its western neighbour, having previously denied it targeted
militants there, and the first time militants connected with the Islamic
State terror group have been hit with airstrikes outside Syria and
Iraq.
To their deaths: The Christian hostages are seen being marched along the beach before the beheadings
Film: The men were marched along a beach before being forced to kneel and beheaded simultaneously
Horror: Blood is seen in the Mediterranean Sea following the sickening beheadings. In the video the jihadis say they now plan to 'conquer Rome', the capital of Italy, a country only 450 miles away
The strikes are in response to a gruesome video, released last night, showing a group of orange jumpsuit-clad Coptic Christians being marched to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea by masked, knife-wielding militants.
The 21 men, who were Egyptian migrant workers kidnapped last month, are then seen being forced onto their knees before they are beheaded simultaneously by the militants standing behind them.