US State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki commented on Tuesday on the aerial strikes ordered by Egypt against the terrorist Islamic State group's camps in Libya saying, “We certainly respect the right of countries to make their own decisions about their own self-defense and defense of their own country.”
“The Secretary [John Kerry] spoke with [Egyptian] Foreign Minister Shokry and offered his condolences, and he indicated in the call that he [Shokry] would be discussing a response with his military,” Psaki added.
“We continue to believe that in Libya the best path forward is a political process, one that’s being led by the UN,” Psaki said.
“That is the process that’s trying to work through the disagreements between different parties and entities on the ground. But I think, broadly speaking, without confirming any action, obviously threats from IS or countries’ desires to defend themselves is different than that.”
On Monday, Egypt launched aerial strikes against IS in Libya following the group's release of a video on Sunday showing the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Copts there.
