Three Dead In Libya Following Attacks Near Oil Fields

A militia group in Libya calling itself The Benghazi Defense Forces launched an attack on eastern military units in an area close to oil facilities in the country on Sunday. Those facilities included three oil terminals north of the country’s major oil fields. Three people died during the fighting.

A spokesperson for Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) stated that the facilities were not threatened, but that the PFG was ready to protect them. The PFG controls the terminals in question. And is loyal to the government.

It was the second day of hostilities between the group and the UN-backed Libyan government, the Government of National Accord. On Saturday, the Defense Force attacked troops loyal to the eastern government in the town of Ajdabiya.

Fayez Al Sarraj, who heads up the government, condemned Sunday’s attack. A statement on the Presidential Council’s Facebook page read: “The Presidential Council strongly condemns this criminal act and holds the leaders and members of these militias fully responsible … These militias are attacking to assist the remnants of the Daesh terrorist organisation in Benghazi and Ajdabiya which have faded and had their strength sapped by the strikes by our brave military.”

The Benghazi Defense Forces is made up of fighters that have been defeated by units loyal to the Khalia Haftar, who has been fighting Islamists for two years, including some with ties to the Islamic State. On Sunday, the group tried to break a siege in their holdouts in Sirte, but were thwarted to the pro-government fighters.

GNA spokesman Reda Issa stated that two soldiers were killed and that five were wounded. Issa said that the Daesh forces have barricaded themselves in homes, and that pro-government forces are opting not to use heavy weaponry in case civilians are also inside those homes.

By Lincoln Brown for Oilprice.com

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