Libya’s recognized government conducted multiple air strikes against rival government forces who were trying to seize major oil ports in the east and targets in the west on Monday, but the rival government continually held control of the main crossing to Tunisia, witnesses said. Reuters report:
The oil producer has had two governments and parliaments since a group called Libya Dawn seized the capital Tripoli in August after a month-long battle with rivals and set up its own prime minister. The recognized premier Abdullah al-Thinni was forced to withdraw to the east.
Both sides are allied to brigades which helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and now vie for political power and a share of the vast oil reserves in a conflict Western powers fear might tear apart the North African country.
On Saturday, a force allied to the Tripoli-based rival government, who opponents say has links to Islamists, launched an offensive to take eastern oil facilities.
A force loyal to Thinni flew air strikes against the troops located some 40 km away from Es Sider oil port, its air force commander Saqer al-Joroushi said. The Tripoli-based government said its troops were controlling all roads leading to the country’s biggest oil port.
