Egypt officially notified the UN Security Council of its air strikes on extremist strongholds in Libya on Saturday, citing Article 51 of the UN charter.

:: Egypt officially notified the UN Security Council of its air strikes on extremist strongholds in Libya on Saturday, citing Article 51 of the UN charter – the right to self-defense after armed attacks occur.

The official spokesman of the Egyptian foreign ministry, Ahmed Abu Zeid, told the Security Council that the permanent mission of Egypt to the United Nations delivered a letter to the president of the Security Council on Saturday informing the Council of the air strikes targeting the sites of the terrorist organizations in the town of Darna in eastern Libya.

In a related context, Abu Zeid said that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received a call from US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson expressing condolences to the victims of the Minya attack.

He added that the US Secretary of State expressed his sincere condolences and solidarity with the Egyptian government and people and families of victims in the face of terrorism. He relayed the support of the United States for Egyptian efforts in the fight against terrorism, as well as its readiness to cooperate in the field of counter-terrorism in information, intelligence and military.

Shoukry briefed his US counterpart on the air strikes carried out by the Egyptian air force on terrorist strongholds in the east of Libya within the framework of self-defense.

He also confirmed the availability of all information and evidence pointing towards the training of terrorist elements involved in the Minya attack within those camps, in addition to their involvement in other incidents.