UAE fighter jets strike ISIL-controlled oil refineries

Image for illustrative purposes only. (Getty Images)

United Arab Emirates F-16 fighter jets based in Jordan carried out air strikes against oil refineries under the control of ISIL aiming to dry up its sources of funding, the state news agency WAM said on Monday.

The jets returned safely to their base after the strikes, the agency said.

The UAE had said on Feb. 10 it carried out air strikes against ISIL after previously suspending its participation in coalition air strikes for several weeks over pilot safety concerns, after a Jordanian pilot was captured by the group in Syria. He was later killed.

Earlier on Monday, The United Arab Emirates said it stood by Egypt in its fight against Islamist militants in Libya after the death of 21 captive Egyptians and called for eradicating ISIL from the region.

"We are with and beside you in all steps and measures you take to eradicate terrorism and all terrorist organisations," UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan said in a condolence message to his Egyptian counterpart carried by WAM.

"This ugly crime strengthens our will and determination and reinforces our cooperation with our partners in confronting the criminal threats of Daesh (ISIL) organisation in Libya and to uproot it from the entire region."

Egypt's air force bombed ISIL targets inside Libya on Monday, a day after the group released a video showed the beheading of 21 Egyptians there, marking an escalation in Cairo's battle against militants.

It was the first time Egypt confirmed launching air strikes against the group in neighbouring Libya, showing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is ready to expand his fight against Islamist militancy beyond Egypt's borders.