Libya Militias Battle for Control of Oil Ports

Libyan militias have launched a new offensive to capture the countries key oil ports, and eastern government forces who control the facilities have hit back with airstrikes. Fighting was centered around the coast town of Ben Jawad, about 20 miles west of Es Sider, the country’s largest oil port, with social media showing pictures of smoke rising from bombing raids. Reports from Libyan media said the eastern government, which is controlled by the parliament in Tobruk, had bombed the attackers. Libya’s state oil company, the National Oil Corporation, had evacuated non-essential staff from Es Sider. The fighting comes after Islamic State was defeated in Sirte, the birthplace of longtime autocratic leader Moammer Qaddafi. Libyan media reports said the oil port attack is being led by units connected to the Benghazi Defense Brigades, a militia group that had previously tried to capture Benghazi.