Egyptian airstrikes on Derna were legitimate self-defense: FM

CAIRO - 28 May 2017: Egyptian airstrikes in Libya were legitimate self-defense, according to international accords and agreements, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Sunday.

“There is definite information that targeted spots in Derna are training sites of terrorists who carried out Minya terrorist attack,” Shoukry told Russia Today (RT) TV channel, affirming that Egypt has the right to defend its national security.

The minister said that Egypt cannot allow those terrorists to stay safe and take Libya as a base to train and organize their armed groups, which leads to the spread of terrorism all over the world.

Shoukry pointed out that the intensive talks between the Libyan political parties in Cairo confirmed their consensus on adhering to the Libyan Political Agreement in Skhirat, Morocco.

The agreement aims at working for a peaceful resolution to the political and military conflict and divisions in Libya, threatening its unity. The signing ceremony of the agreement on Dec. 17, 2015 included members of the Tobruk-based Libyan Parliament and the General National Congress in addition to prominent figures from Libyan political parties and the community.