Egypt launches second wave of airstrikes on ISIS in Libya
Egyptian warplanes staged a second wave of airstrikes against ISIS targets in Libya on Monday in retaliation for the slaughter of 21 Egyptian Christians by ISIS militants, Egypt’s state-run Ahram Online reported, citing security officials.
The airstrikes came after an earlier wave that struck ISIS camps, training areas and weapons depots, the military said.
“Avenging Egyptian blood and punishing criminals and murderers is our right and duty,” the Egyptian military said in the statement, which was broadcast on state television.
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Video appears to show beheadings of Egyptian Christians
The bombing raids came after ISIS released a gruesome video Sunday that appeared to show ISIS militants beheading men they said were Christians on a beach.
The slickly produced video shows the apparent mass killing, with jihadists in black standing behind each of the victims, who are all dressed in orange jumpsuits with their hands cuffed behind them.
Twenty-one Egyptian Christians were kidnapped in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte in two incidents in December and January. They were reportedly from impoverished villages and went to Libya looking for work.
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Now, U.S. intelligence and government officials say Mueller possibly was paired with a male ISIS fighter during her captivity.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, cited unspecified intelligence gleaned about the case. A U.S. intelligence official said it was unclear whether Mueller was sold or forced into the pairing.
Intelligence suggests Mueller may have been given to an ISIS fighter as a sort of bride, one U.S. government official said.
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ISIS’ high-profile hostages
Most high-profile ISIS victims have come from a number of nations and backgrounds. One thing that unites them is that they were on a mission in Syria or Iraq — to distribute aid, provide medical care, report on the situation, or to fight militarily.
CNN’s Jethro Mullen profiles some of those killed by ISIS
This collection of the latest developments is drawn from reporting and writing from across CNN’s platforms.
