Egypt signed agreements to purchase 24 advanced fighter jets from France on Monday hours after the Egyptian aircraft bombed Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) targets in Libya in response to the group's execution of the Egyptian Coptic Christians it had kidnapped, and implored foreign governments for their help in fighting extremists in the region. The deal for 24 of Dassault Aviation's multi-role Rafale aircraft as well as a frigate and munitions, underlines how many are willing to overlook Egypt's poor human rights record when it comes to weapons sales as Cairo emerges as a key player in the fight against ISIS.At a ceremony in the gilded Presidential Palace in the Egyptian capital, French business executives including Dassault CEO Eric Trappier signed the agreements with Egyptian generals, shaking hands and kissing each other's cheeks. U.S. ally Egypt, which has for decades received up to $1.3 billion annually in military aid from Washington, is seeking to diversify its arms providers. Its military remains largely U.S.-trained and equipped, although Russian news agency Interfax reported last week that Moscow has $3.5 billion in new contracts with Cairo for military aircraft, air defense missiles and other weapons. Washington had withheld some of its aid after the Egyptian army, led by the current President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, ousted the first democratically elected President Mohammad Morsi in 2013, but has for example released a delivery of Apache helicopters last year.A French Defense Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of ministry protocol, has said the total value of Monday's sale was 5.2 billion euros. Despite the cheering in Paris, the agreed sale has sparked fury from some groups over perceived human rights abuses in Egypt. Amnesty International attacked the decision to sell the 24 jets and a frigate to a nation it accused of "alarming" rights abuses. And others have criticised Paris of double standards by freezing its delivery of two Mistral-class warships to Russia over the Ukraine crisis but going ahead with the Egypt deal. Monday's Egyptian airstrikes in Libya were a swift retribution for extremists' beheadings of Egyptian Christian hostages, shown in a grisly online video released hours earlier. Libya's air force commander said the strikes were coordinated and killed some 50 militants, while two Libyan security officials said civilians, including three children and two women, were among the casualties. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Egyptian air force continued to pound the militants yesterday.The Libyan central government asked the Egyptian citizens to leave the country immediately as the militants may attack them. However, many Egyptians said they preferred to stay despite being worried over possible attacks. The oil-rich country is home to more than a million Egyptians.Facing grim economic prospects at home, desperate young Egyptians are seeking jobs in Libya - a country sliding into lawlessness where armed groups battle for control and dozens of their compatriots have been kidnapped. Tackling unemployment in Egypt - where half of the rapidly growing population is under 25 - is one of the toughest challenges facing el-Sissi. The political and social unrest since autocrat Hosni Mubarak was ousted has scared foreign investors and tourists away from Egypt, the world's most populous Arab nation with 90 million people. This has exacerbated the job crisis, and the unemployment rate has climbed from 8.9 percent to 13 percent in that time. Thousands of Egyptians have travelled to neighboring Libya in search of work since 2011, despite their government advising against going to one of the most dangerous countries in the region.