The beheading of 21 Coptic Egyptians by the Islamic State in Libya last week represents a war crime, US-based Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday, urging Egypt, meanwhile to ensure no civilian casualties are resulting from its retaliatory attacks on IS strongholds at the Libyan territories.
“ISIS is again horrifying the world by perpetrating war crimes, this time showing no mercy in Libya,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director, quoted by the organization's statement. “But any military engagement with ISIS should take all possible steps to spare civilian lives," she added.
The organization quoted locals at Derna, the city bombed by Egyptian figher jets, as saying that the airstrikes left six civilian deaths.
"The resident said the attacks had killed six civilians, including a woman and her three children, members of the al-Kharshofi family," the organization said, adding, that it was, however, unable to confirm the deaths with the hospitals.
"Libya and Egypt should both conduct investigations into the civilian casualties of these air strikes, and Egypt needs to take steps to minimize such casualties," added the statement.
