Egyptian jets hit six ISIS bases in E. Libya

Egyptian air force Friday night struck six bases used by ISIS and its allies in the eastern Libya town of Darma, hours after ten masked gunmen shot up a group of Coptic Christians traveling to a monastery, killing 26 people and injuring at least 28, including children. In a televised address to the Egyptian people, President Abdul-Fatteh El-Sisi said: "Egypt will not hesitate in striking terror camps anywhere, either inside (the country) or outside it." Turning to US President Donald Trump, he added: "You have said that your priority is to confront terrorism, and I trust you are capable of doing that."

DEBKAfile adds: The Egyptian air strike hit six bases in and around Darna – and not for the first time. But never before have those air attacks been officially announced. Their effectiveness in the past has been minimal. Darna is used by Islamist groups as a starting point for their terrorist activities. Their convoys of fighters and smuggled arms cross through Sinai to reach other parts of the Middle East, including Sinai and the Palestinian-ruled Gaza Strip.