Egyptian workers 'kidnapped by IS' in Libya's capital

Rami Magdi, whose father is among the 15 workers missing in war-torn Libya, told Aswat Masriya that the group of Egyptians was kidnapped by IS militants in Tripoli last Thursday.

Foreign ministry official, Hisham al-Naqeeb, confirmed Egyptian authorities are aware of the case and are currently conducting an investigation into the incident.

IS militants have built a strong presence in the north African region in recent years.

United Nations experts monitoring sanctions against Libya say the extremists are exploiting the political turmoil in the country and continues to recruit people from marginalised communities.

It has also increased its operational capacity in the city of Sabratha and the capital, Tripoli, through local recruitment reinforced by foreign fighters, the experts said.

"While IS does not currently generate direct revenue from the exploitation of oil in Libya, its attacks against oil installations seriously compromise the country's economic stability," the six-member panel said in the report.

"Libyans have increasingly fallen victim to the terrorist group's brutalities, culminating in several mass killings."

In February last year, the group murdered 21 Coptic Egyptian workers who were abducted from Sirte, Libya.

Libya has effectively become a failed state since the 2011 ousting and death of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, which led to the country's military collapse and fragmentation by powerful militias.