Algeria puts air force on high alert after Egypt airstrikes in Libya

The Algerian army has put its air and ground forces on high alert after Egyptian air force planes carried out  six strikes directed at camps near Derna in Libya, on Friday, local newspaper Al-Bilad reported.

The Algerian air force began aerial reconnaissance flights, while the ground forces intensified observation points on the eastern border with Algeria, Al-Arabiya site reported.

Earlier in the day, the Egyptian army said in a statement its air forces carried out six strikes against a number of terrorist groups inside the Libyan territory. Egyptian air force planes on Friday carried out six strikes directed at camps near Derna in Libya where Cairo believes militants responsible for a deadly attack on Christians earlier in the day were trained, Egyptian military sources said.

The airstrikes came hours after masked gunmen attacked a group of Coptic Christians travelling to a monastery in central Egypt, killing 29 people. The Daesh terrorist group on Saturday claimed responsibility for the attack.

Meanwhile, the Darna Mujahideen Shura Council denied being under attack and said the Egyptian air strikes took place on Friday night and targeted populated areas in the city. The Council also denied responsibility for the attack which took place in Egypt.

Read: Egypt launches 2nd day of air strikes on Libya