Egypt said it has bombed Islamic State targets in Libya, hours after the group published a video showing the apparent be-heading of 21 Egyptian Christians.
A Libyan air force commander said 40 to 50 militants were killed in Monday’s air strikes against Islamic State targets in Libya.
“There are casualties among the individuals, ammunition and the communication centers belonging to them,” Saqer al-Joroushi said “The number of deaths are not less than 40 or 50 for sure,” he said.
Libyan officials said Egypt had hit targets in the militant-held city of Derna in co-ordination with Libya.
Libya said it had joined and coordinate with Egypt on the strikes.
IS militants claimed 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 December and January from the coastal town of Sirte in eastern Libya, under the control of Islamist groups.
A video emerged on Sunday showing militants forcing a group of men to the ground and decapitating them.
