ISLAMIC State (ISIS) forces attacked defenders of Libya's main oil ports with small arms and an attempted car bombs, gaining ground from two rival claimants to government status, Reuters reports.
ISIS forces attacked guards at a gate near Es Sider port, which is under the control of the Council of Deputies, the faction with most international recognition, but does not hold the capital Tripoli.
"An attack was carried out by the Islamic State on a gate before sunset," said Ali Hassi, spokesman for the a local battalion of the Petroleum Facilities Guard, allied to the most externally supported government claimant.
Mr Hassi said a guard was killed and two were wounded. ISIS men later tried to target the same gate with a car bomb, which failed to detonate and four attackers were killed in the firefight.
The capital is held by Libya Dawn forces, which set up a government and parliament. "The internationally recognised government operates out of the east," said Reuters, adding that each is backed by loose militia alliances
ISIS forces is based Sirte and has attacked oilfields before. In March, they attacked al-Ghani oilfield, and nine oil workers including foreigners were kidnapped there.
Western governments, concerned about the growing Islamic State influence and the flow of illegal migrants from Libya's coast, are pushing for the two rival governments to accept a United Nations-backed peace deal.
Wikipedia says the "civil war is between the Council of Deputies in Tobruk and its supporters, the New General National Congress in Tripoli and its supporters, and various jihadist and tribal elements controlling parts of the country.
"The internationally disfavoured Council of Deputies was formed following June 2014 elections, when the General National Congress formed as a transitional body after the Libyan Revolution dissolved.
"However, Islamists fared poorly in the elections, and members of the Islamist-led GNC reconvened in August 2014, refusing to recognise the new parliament dominated by secularist and federalist lawmakers.
"Supporters of the New General National Congress swiftly seized control of Tripoli forcing the newly elected parliament into virtual exile in Tobruk, near the Egyptian border.
"The Council of Deputies enjoys widespread international recognition as Libya's official government. However, the Tripoli-based Supreme Court declared it illegal and voided the results of the election in November 2014.
"Against this backdrop of division, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [ISIL] and Ansar al-Sharia, as well as other rebel groups both religious and tribal in nature, have seized control of several cities and districts across Libya, especially in Cyrenaica, which is under the control of the Tobruk-based government," says Wikipedia.
PORTS
05 October 2015 - 22:05
ISIS attack on Libyan oil port repulsed by leading government claimant
ISLAMIC State (ISIS) forces attacked defenders of Libya's main oil ports with small arms and an attempted car bombs, gaining ground from two rival claimants to government status, Reuters reports.
PORTS
05 October 2015 - 22:05
ISIS attack on Libyan oil port repulsed by leading government claimant
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