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Libya militants kill at least 22 soldiers in failed attempt to seize oil terminal | Libya militants kill at least 22 soldiers in failed attempt to seize oil terminal |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Islamists have killed at least 22 soldiers in a surprise attack using speedboats during a failed offensive to seize some of Libya’s main oil terminals, officials said. | Islamists have killed at least 22 soldiers in a surprise attack using speedboats during a failed offensive to seize some of Libya’s main oil terminals, officials said. |
The fighting in the oil-rich region came as pro-government forces lost ground to Islamist militias in the eastern city of Benghazi, where jihadis beheaded six people and killed 14 others, military officials said. | The fighting in the oil-rich region came as pro-government forces lost ground to Islamist militias in the eastern city of Benghazi, where jihadis beheaded six people and killed 14 others, military officials said. |
The militiamen belonging to the Fajr Libya, or Libya Dawn, launched the attack on al-Sidra port by firing rockets from speedboats, setting an oil tank on fire, security sources said. | The militiamen belonging to the Fajr Libya, or Libya Dawn, launched the attack on al-Sidra port by firing rockets from speedboats, setting an oil tank on fire, security sources said. |
Soldiers damaged three of the vessels before clashes in which the militants were eventually repelled. | Soldiers damaged three of the vessels before clashes in which the militants were eventually repelled. |
“These speedboats had fired several rockets at the terminals of Ras Lanuf and Al-Sidra and one of them hit a tank south of al-Sidra port which then caught fire,” said Ali al-Hassi, security spokesman for the region. | “These speedboats had fired several rockets at the terminals of Ras Lanuf and Al-Sidra and one of them hit a tank south of al-Sidra port which then caught fire,” said Ali al-Hassi, security spokesman for the region. |
Al-Sidra is in the “oil crescent” region that has been the scene of recent fighting between government forces and Fajr Libya. | Al-Sidra is in the “oil crescent” region that has been the scene of recent fighting between government forces and Fajr Libya. |
The latest clashes pushed oil prices higher in Asia on Friday, with US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for February delivery rising 28 cents to $56.12, while Brent for February gained 13 cents to $60.37. | The latest clashes pushed oil prices higher in Asia on Friday, with US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for February delivery rising 28 cents to $56.12, while Brent for February gained 13 cents to $60.37. |
Witnesses said the attack was launched overnight, and reported seeing smoke from the burning oil tank. | Witnesses said the attack was launched overnight, and reported seeing smoke from the burning oil tank. |
Military and medical sources said 18 soldiers and a Fajr Libya fighter were killed in Sirte, and a further four soldiers were killed in al-Sidra. | |
Most of the dead soldiers belonged to the 136th battalion responsible for monitoring a power plant west of Sirte, the sources said. | Most of the dead soldiers belonged to the 136th battalion responsible for monitoring a power plant west of Sirte, the sources said. |
Since the clashes erupted on 13 December the country’s oil production has dropped to nearly 350,000 barrels a day compared with 800,000 previously, according to industry experts. | |
“The armed forces on Thursday repelled an attack in which the Fajr Libya militia tried to seize the al-Sidra oil terminal,” said Hassi. | “The armed forces on Thursday repelled an attack in which the Fajr Libya militia tried to seize the al-Sidra oil terminal,” said Hassi. |
A medical source at Ibn Sina hospital in Sirte said earlier that the facility had received 18 bodies from the fighting. | A medical source at Ibn Sina hospital in Sirte said earlier that the facility had received 18 bodies from the fighting. |
The 136th battalion is affiliated with the military, and most its fighters are from a tribe loyal to former general Khalifa Haftar. | The 136th battalion is affiliated with the military, and most its fighters are from a tribe loyal to former general Khalifa Haftar. |
A military official said Haftar’s forces and pro-government troops had lost several positions in Benghazi to Islamist militias in the past 24 hours. | A military official said Haftar’s forces and pro-government troops had lost several positions in Benghazi to Islamist militias in the past 24 hours. |
“Islamist gunmen seized large parts of al-Lithi in south-central Benghazi, setting fire to 45 homes of people linked to Haftar and pro-government forces,” the official said. | “Islamist gunmen seized large parts of al-Lithi in south-central Benghazi, setting fire to 45 homes of people linked to Haftar and pro-government forces,” the official said. |
The official, who declined to be named, said six people were beheaded and 14 others killed in the attacks. | The official, who declined to be named, said six people were beheaded and 14 others killed in the attacks. |
Haftar’s forces have been fighting alongside forces from the internationally recognised government of Abdullah al-Thani to overrun Islamists from Benghazi. | Haftar’s forces have been fighting alongside forces from the internationally recognised government of Abdullah al-Thani to overrun Islamists from Benghazi. |
In other violence on Thursday three Fajr Libya men were killed in a raid in Tripoli, which Islamists seized in the summer after fierce fighting with nationalist forces. | |
On 16 December a warplane belonging to Fajr Libya fired missiles at a sector to the west of al-Sidra, in the first such raid in the energy-rich region. | |
More than three years after dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed in a Nato-backed revolt, Libya is still awash with weapons and powerful militias, and has rival parliaments as well as governments. | More than three years after dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed in a Nato-backed revolt, Libya is still awash with weapons and powerful militias, and has rival parliaments as well as governments. |
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