Clashes erupt in eastern Libya over oil facilities

Clashes erupted Saturday morning between members of the Islamist Dawn of Libya militia and guards of petroleum facilities in the Wadi al-Ahmar region in eastern Libya, eyewitnesses reported.

“Warplanes bombed several areas belonging to the Dawn of Libya militia in the Bin Jawad area adjacent to the northern city of Sirte,” an eyewitness told Anadolu Agency.

Bashir Bozverh, who commands a battalion in the eastern town of Ajdabiya, said the violence erupted when militants marched towards Wadi al-Ahmar, which is controlled by government forces.

“But the attack was repelled with the Dawn of Libya militants retreating to the Bin Jawad area, where clashes are currently taking place,” Bozverh said.

“Army warplanes are currently raiding several locations of the Dawn of Libya militants in Bin Jawad,” he added.

A field commander with the Dawn of Libya militia told AA that his “forces have been stationed in Bin Jawad for five days, coming from Misurata and other cities, to liberate the oil sites in al-Hilal region from the grip of forces loyal to retired military chief Khalifa Haftar.”

No information is yet available about casualties.

Libya has been dogged by instability since the 2011 ouster and death of longstanding ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

In the three years since, rival militias have often locked horns, frequently bringing violence to Libya’s main cities, including capital Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi.

The Libyan government, meanwhile, has appeared largely absent from the scene.

The sharp divisions have yielded two rival seats of government in the country, each of which has its own institutions.

Two assemblies currently vie for legislative authority: the House of Representatives, which convenes in the eastern city of Tobruk; and the General National Congress, which – even though its mandate ended in August – continues to convene in capital Tripoli.

The two parliaments support two different governments respectively headquartered in the two cities.