The Islamic State group released a video Sunday that appeared to show the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians in Libya and President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi warned that his country would respond to the deaths as it saw fit.

Speaking on national television hours after the release of the video, el-Sissi said Cairo would choose the ¡°necessary means and timing to avenge the criminal killings.¡±

Egypt¡¯s state news agency MENA quoted the spokesman for the Coptic Church as confirming that 21 Egyptian Christians believed to be held by the Islamic State group were dead.