Libya air force foils militant attack on oil port
Anti-aircraft fire by Libyan air force has repelled an attack by the warplanes belonging to militants against a major oil export terminal in the North African country.
The aircraft on Tuesday tried to hit the al-Sidra terminal, which is located near the town of Ra’s Lanuf and controlled by Libya’s internationally recognized government.
According to Ali al-Hassi, spokesman for the forces guarding oil installations in the east,“Two MiG airplanes took off from Sirte airport and tried to bomb al-Sidra, but anti-aircraft defenses forced them to drop their bombs on waste land without causing any casualties or damage.”
The city of Sirte is located about 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of al-Sidra. Militias are in control of parts of the city and its airport.
In reprisal for the militant assault, planes from the internationally recognized air force launched an attack on militant-controlled Maitiga airport in the capital city of Tripoli, but the airstrikes did not cause any casualties or damage.
The head of the internationally recognized government’s air force, General Sagr el-Jerouchi, said the raids targeted Fajr Libya units inside the facility and “also hit other militia positions in Tripoli.”
Fajr Libya, or Libya Dawn, a coalition of militias, captured Tripoli last summer and Maitiga is the only airport still functioning in the city.
Tuesday’s attacks come as a fresh round of UN-sponsored peace negotiations to end Libya’s political crisis is due to be held in Morocco on Thursday.
Libya plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. The ouster of Gaddafi gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias and deep political divisions.
Of the two rival camps vying for the control of the country, one controls Tripoli, and the other, Libya’s internationally recognized government, governs the cities of Bayda and Tobruk.
MR/MKA/SS
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