Thirty-five Egyptians in Libya were claimed kidnapped late Monday, according to media reports from Libya. The Egyptians were kidnapped in what appears to be a round-up at various locations in areas controlled by Ansar Al-Sharia and "Islamic State", according to the English language publication Libya Herald. The Al-Tayar Al-Sha'abyparty's Beni Suef governorate secretary, Ramy Al-Khouly, said Tuesday that his cousin, who works and lives in Libya, called him Monday night. During the phone call, his cousin said he is being detained along with 34 other Egyptians, according to state newspaper Al-Ahram. Al-Khouly added that his attempts to contact his cousin or any of the other Egyptians were in vain as communications stopped. Reports first emerged on Monday that seven Egyptians went missing then the numbers increased to 35 later, according to Libya Herald. Egypt launched airstrikes inside Libya on Monday in retaliation for the beheadings of 21 kidnapped Egyptian workers by "Islamic State" in Libya.
