An Islamic State attack on Libya’s largest oil ports this week left at least five massive oil tanks aflame as of Wednesday.
The attack began Monday at Es Sider, where at least four oil tanks were still burning Wednesday, a spokesman for the guards tasked with securing the ports told the Wall Street Journal. At least one other tank was set ablaze in Ras Lanuf and was still burning Wednesday.
ISIS In Africa: After Islamic State Attack, Libya's National Oil Company … – International Business Times https://t.co/EcUCCYPnIL
— CRCM Libya (@crcmlibya) January 5, 2016
Fires sparked by ISIL attacks spread at Libya's largest oil ports with dozens dead https://t.co/yijlITH3ax pic.twitter.com/tcpT21RXts
— AJE News (@AJENews) January 6, 2016
Islamic State Clash With Guards Near Libya's Es Sider Oil Port – https://t.co/lzqh5z7aO2 pic.twitter.com/3UXt8PWzlp
— searchmap.eu (@searchmap_eu) January 4, 2016
A spokesman for the National Oil Co. told the WSJ ISIS machine gun fire set the tanks ablaze, and put the number of burning tanks at five in Es Sider and two in Ras Lanuf. The spokesman said 10 of his guards were killed in the fight, along with 150 ISIS militants. (RELATED: ISIS Training Militants On Flight Simulators In Libya)
The Es Sider and Ras Lanuf ports are an important part of Libya’s oil industry, and ISIS may be attacking them in a bid to cripple peace talks between two militias fighting a civil war, reported the Wall Street Journal. U.S. officials suspect ISIS is replicating a strategy used in Syria and Iraq to sabotage the oil so it is harder and less worth protecting, before finally moving in and taking control.
Libya: IS militants resume attacks on Es Sider oil terminal https://t.co/md4RrAdr6Z pic.twitter.com/7DpibDyeA4
— Agence Ecofin (@agenceecofin) January 6, 2016
Oil output has fallen by about two-thirds in Libya, a country which is capable of producing 1.5 million barrels a day.
“We are helpless and not being able to do anything against this deliberate destruction to the oil installations” in Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, Natonal Oil Co. said in a statement Tuesday, according to Bloomberg News. “National Oil Corporation urges all faithful and honorable people of this homeland to hurry to rescue what is left from our resources before it is too late.”
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