Islamist militants attack oil production area in Libya

In Libya, Islamist militias today attacked country's main oil production area in the east, prompting the forces of strongman Khalifa Haftar who control it to retaliate with air strikes. 

The attack was spearheaded by the Benghazi Defence Brigades, a coalition of mostly Islamist militias and armed groups, and was backed by tribal fighters and former petroleum installation guards.

Colonel Moftah al-Megarief, who heads an oil facilities guard controlled by Haftar said



the Islamist militia has advanced towards the oil crescent and are 15 kilometres south of the town of Nofliya.Military sources said MiG-23 warplanes and Mi-35 attack helicopters bombarded a convoy of Benghazi Defence Brigades vehicles south of Nofliya.

Libya's oil-exporting region is bitterly contested between the country's internationally recognised and Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar.