Jihadist Camps hit after militant attack on Coptic Christians
Jihadist Camps hit after militant attack on Coptic Christians: President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has said that in a retaliatory attack by the Egyptian forces, “terrorist training camps” have been hit against the earlier attack on Coptic Christians by the militants
According to the Egyptian State media six strikes had hit the town of Derna in neighbouring Libya.
Earlier Gunmen had attacked a bus which was carrying worshippers in central Egypt. The attack had resulted in the death of at least 28 people and injured 25 others.
President Sisi had said that he would “not hesitate to strike terrorist camps anywhere.” During an announcement on the TV late on Friday, President Sisi had promised to “protect our people from the evil.” He had said in an appeal for help to the US President Donald Trump, that countries which support terrorism shall be punished.
According to the military sources the militants that had been attacked had been involved in the attack on Egyptian Christians earlier in the day. There had been no claims by any militant group; however Islamic State had been involved in attacks on Copt Christians several times in recent months.
Libya has been under control of a large number of armed militias which have emerged in the chaos after long serving Col Muammar Gaddafi had been overthrown in October 2011 by Nato-backed forces.
However in the meantime IS has also built a presence in Libya during the chaos.
Earlier Egypt had launched air strikes against IS in Libya in 2015. The military had bombed several sites near Derna, after the militants had released a video which showed the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians.
Copts which were killed on Friday had been travelling to the Monastery of St Samuel the Confessor, which is located 135km (85 miles) south of Cairo, the bus came under fire at the Minya province.
The bus was in a small convoy and was stopped on a desert road near a police station which was located at the border with Beni Suef provinces.
According to eye witnesses Gunmen which were wearing military uniforms had attacked the convoy with automatic weapons before fleeing in 4X4 vehicles, eyewitnesses said.
According to Minya Province Bishop Makarios, many of the victims had been shot at point blank range.
According to the reports children were also among the dead in the bus, the report added that a pickup truck in the convoy which had been carrying workmen at the monastery had also been targeted.
A statement of support by President Trump had been released by the White House just Minutes after President Sisi’s speech.
President Trump’s statement had said that “This merciless slaughter of Christians in Egypt tears at our hearts and grieves our souls. America stands with President Sisi and all the Egyptian people today, and always, as we fight to defeat this common enemy.”
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