Egyptian authorities closed Tuesday the Salloum border crossing, until further notice, to prevent Egyptian citizens crossing over to Libya, according to a statement issued by the Marsa Matrouh Security Directorate on Wednesday. The statement didn't specify the duration of the border's closing, only referring to a notice received by the directorate to close the border as of January 20. Last November, Egyptian security forces had thwarted illegal infiltration attempts by 58 foreigners from Libya into Egypt through the Salloum border. Earlier this month, the Islamic State extremist group in Libya claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of 21 Christian Egyptians and threatened to kill them. Egyptian Foreign ministry issued several travel warnings to Libya and formed a crisis committee to manage the situation of the abducted Egyptian citizens and those who are still stranded in the torn up country. In July, clashes broke out in Libya between the internationally recognized government in Tobruk and Islamic militias to seize control of the country's two largest oil ports, leaving the country in a state of chaos.
