‘Major offensive’ launched in Libya’s oil crescent

The National : The Libyan National Army on Sunday announced a “major offensive” to drive rival groups from the country’s north-eastern oil crescent, where militias have captured two vital export terminals.

Armed groups including the Petroleum Facilities Guard led by Ibrahim Jadhran seized the Ras Lanuf and Es Sider terminals from the LNA on Thursday. One oil storage tank caught fire in the fighting and another was reported to be ablaze on Sunday.

“We have launched a major offensive supported by the army and air force to drive out the militias of Jadhran and his allies,” LNA spokesman Ahmed Al Mesmari said.

The Petroleum Facilities Guard controlled the terminals, about 650 kilometres east of Tripoli, for years following the 2011 killing of longtime Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi, but were eventually forced out by the LNA.