ISIS BEHEADS 21 EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANS IN LIBYA

Egypt responds with airstrikes

The Islamic State is growing. It's reach has extended beyond its stomping grounds in Iraq and Syria to Europe and the Americas - through lone wolf attacks like those in France, Canada. Most recently, Denmark was subjected to lone wolf attacks, as well as Africa, where Islamist groups that previously had no connection with the Islamic State now swear fealty to it, and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Libya is the most recent target of this outgrowth of violence. Twenty one Egyptian Christians were recently murdered there, beheaded in a five minute video which the Islamic State posted recently to social media networks through its media arm.

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These Egyptians were poor farmers, members of the Coptic Christian denomination, who were living and working in Libya, and sending money back to their families at home.

Unlike America and President Barack Obama, who has allowed the Islamic State to kidnap and murder Americans with virtual impunity, Egypt has taken the route that Jordan did, after video was released showing a captured Jordanian pilot being burned alive in a cage.

Egyptian fighters hit several Islamic State targets in Libya today, just a day after the video of the beheadings of the 21 Egyptians was released, which means the Islamic State has brought another enemy upon itself.

The early morning strike hit several militant camps, weapon depots and training sites, Egyptian military officials said.

The intelligence community has believed that Egypt has already been supporting moderate rebels in Libya, but the Islamic States recent action has forced Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, into a more direct and open role.

Libyan air assets also contributed to the attack on the Islamic State fighters in the region.

"There are casualties among individuals, ammunition and the (Islamic State's) communication centers," said Saqer al-Jaroushi, a Libyan air force commander.

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"More air strikes will be carried out today and tomorrow in coordination with Egypt," he continued.

In another action which may deepen America's involvement in the war against the Islamic State, al-Sisi called on the U.S. led coalition to widen the scope of their operations beyond just Iraq and Syria.

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