The Islamic State has struck again. This time the extremist group released a gruesome video showing the mass beheadings of nearly two dozen Egyptian Coptic Christians it had held hostage for weeks.
Just hours after the extremist group released the horrific footage, Egyptian warplanes struck ISIS targets in Libya on Monday. The Egyptian government and the Coptic Church both say the video is authentic.
"Egypt reserves the right to respond at the proper time and in the appropriate style in retaliation for those inhuman criminal killers," Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi declared.
The jihadists claim loyalty to ISIS and identify themselves as the Tripoli Province of the Islamic State.
***Sr. CBN News Reporter George Thomas shared his insights on the growing threat from groups like ISIS, Feb. 16. Click play to watch.
The killings raise concerns the Islamic terror group, which controls about a third of Syria and Iraq, has established a direct affiliate in North Africa, less than 500 miles from the southern tip of Italy.
One of the jihadists in the video, speaking English, makes direct reference to that possibility, saying the group now plans to "conquer Rome."
Relatives and friends of the slain hostages say they were targeted because they were Christians and voted for el-Sissi, a former army chief.
"They are targeting us because we voted for el-Sissi and because we are Christians," Abanoub Ishaq, a colleague of the Egyptian Coptic Christian hostages in Libya, said.
The recent video has some wondering what it will take to stop the Islamic terrorists. CBN News Terrorism Analyst Erick Stakelbeck shares more on President Obama's ISIS strategy and what other countries should do in response. Click play to watch the entire interview.
"In Libya, they say that the Christians are the sons of el-Sissi and are targeting us for that matter. If only Christians voted for el-Sissi he wouldn't have won the elections," he added.
The latest ISIS atrocity comes as Congress debates President Barack Obama's war powers request to take on the jihadist army.
Many Republicans say the president's move isn't strong enough to truly battle ISIS, which is expanding its influence beyond Iraq and Syria.
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned that ISIS is a threat beyond the Middle East.
"We're dealing with an enemy that has strong command-and control, and we're dealing with an enemy that is well-armed," Panetta said. "ISIS is a whole new chapter in terms of the terrorist threat to this -- to that area and to our country."
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