February 2015 Egyptian airstrikes in Libya

February 2015 Egyptian airstrikes in Libya
	Part of the Military intervention against ISIL and; Egyptian involvement in the Second Libyan Civil War
Date	16 February 2015
Location	Libya
Result	Ground targets destroyed by Egyptian Air Force;
Belligerents
Egypt; Libya (House of Representatives)	Islamic State
Commanders and leaders
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi; Sedki Sobhi; Younes Hamed; Khalifa Haftar; Saqer al-Joroushi	Abu Nabil Al Anbari; (ISIL commander of North Africa); Muhammand Abdullah; (Top ISIL Judge in Derna); Abdullah Al-Libi; Ali Al Qarqaa; (ISIL Emir of Nofaliya); Ahmed Rouissi †
Units involved
Egyptian Air Force;	Military of ISIL
Strength
Six F-16 jets	1,000–3,000 (Feb. 2015 estimate)
Casualties and losses
None reported	81 killed and 55 captured
	7 civilians killed; 35 Egyptian citizens allegedly kidnapped

The February 2015 Egyptian airstrikes in Libya against Islamic State positions in Libya took place on 16 February 2015, and were triggered by a video released by ISIL in Libya a day earlier, depicting the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians from Egypt. Within hours, the Egyptian Air Force responded with airstrikes against ISIL training camps and weapons stockpiles^[10] in retaliation for the killings.^[11] Warplanes acting under orders from the Libyan government also struck targets in Derna, reportedly in coordination with Egypt.^[1]

The air strikes had allegedly killed up to 64 ISIL militants, including three of the leadership, in the coastal cities of Derna and Sirte. Libyan media reported that at least 35 more Egyptians had been rounded up by ISIL in retaliation for the air raids.

As the airstrikes took place, Egypt's Foreign Ministry called on the US-led coalition striking Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targets in Syria and Iraq to broaden its scope to North Africa and take action against the extremist group in Libya.^[10]

^ ^a ^b "Libyan air force loyal to official government bombed targets in eastern city of Derna". Ynetnews. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
^ "Major Libyan Jihadist Group Declares Allegiance to ISIS - The Tower". The Tower. 30 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 August 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
^ "Senior ISIS commander killed in Libya - al Arabiya English". 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
^ "Egypt: Six F-16s Used in Libya Airstrikes - Egyptian Military Source". allAfrica. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
^ "The Islamic State of Libya Isn't Much of a State". Foreign Policy. 17 February 2015. Archived from the original on 9 June 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015. He said that today there are about 1,000 to 3,000 fighters loyal to the Islamic State in Libya(subscription required)
^ "Egyptian air strikes in Libya kill dozens of Isis militants". The Guardian. 17 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
^ "SIRTE, Libya: Islamic State fighting in Libya's Sirte claims at least 19 lives - Middle East - McClatchy DC". McClatchy DC. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
^ "Libya: Egyptian troops launch ground attack in Isis-held Derna 'capturing 55 militants'". International Business Times UK. 18 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
^ "Seven killed in Egyptian air strikes on Libyan city: Amnesty". Reuters. 23 February 2015. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Egypt bombs Islamic State targets in Libya after beheading video". Washington Post. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
^ "Egypt 'bombs IS in Libya' after beheadings video". BBC News. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

[Libya_syncs_airstrikes_with_Egypt-1] "Libyan air force loyal to official government bombed targets in eastern city of Derna". Ynetnews. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

[Libyan_militant_group_joins_ISIL-2] "Major Libyan Jihadist Group Declares Allegiance to ISIS - The Tower". The Tower. 30 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 August 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.

[senior_ISIL_commander_in_Libya_killed-3] "Senior ISIS commander killed in Libya - al Arabiya English". 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

[allAfrica_6_jets-4] "Egypt: Six F-16s Used in Libya Airstrikes - Egyptian Military Source". allAfrica. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.

[fp17feb-5] "The Islamic State of Libya Isn't Much of a State". Foreign Policy. 17 February 2015. Archived from the original on 9 June 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015. He said that today there are about 1,000 to 3,000 fighters loyal to the Islamic State in Libya(subscription required)

[Egyptian_airstrikes_kill_81_ISIL_militants-6] "Egyptian air strikes in Libya kill dozens of Isis militants". The Guardian. 17 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2015.

[7] "SIRTE, Libya: Islamic State fighting in Libya's Sirte claims at least 19 lives - Middle East - McClatchy DC". McClatchy DC. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.

[ISIL_militants_captured_in_Egyptian_ground_assault-8] "Libya: Egyptian troops launch ground attack in Isis-held Derna 'capturing 55 militants'". International Business Times UK. 18 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.

[9] "Seven killed in Egyptian air strikes on Libyan city: Amnesty". Reuters. 23 February 2015. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.

[wp-10] "Egypt bombs Islamic State targets in Libya after beheading video". Washington Post. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2015.

[Egypt_retaliates_for_the_killings_of_21_Egyptians-11] "Egypt 'bombs IS in Libya' after beheadings video". BBC News. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

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