’ISIS’ Attacks Set Libyan Oil Storage Tanks on Fire
Local Editor
At least five massive oil storage tanks caught fire in two oil terminals in Libya after attacks by Takfiri "ISIS" terrorists.
The attacks originally ignited fires at the key terminals in Sidra and Ras Lanouf, located between the city of Sirte, under "ISIS" control, and the eastern city of Benghazi.
Spokesman for the Petroleum Facilities Guards, Ali al-Hassi, said on Wednesday that the fires now spread to the storage tanks.
However, he further added that the group's terrorists were not able to take control of Sidra and Ras Lanouf in the attacks.
At least 10 guards were killed and dozens were injured in the attacks on Monday and Tuesday.
The militants are said to have received air cover from forces loyal to the General National Congress [GNC], one of the two rival governments in Libya that controls the capital, Tripoli.
In the process, firefighters were trying to extinguish the blaze in the terminals. Officials said each of the oil tanks is estimated to be storing 420,000 to 460,000 barrels of oil.
Unable to quell the fire, the National Oil Co. said it was "helpless and not being able to do anything against this deliberate destruction to the oil installations."
Yet the company urged "all faithful and honorable people of this homeland to hurry to rescue what is left from our resources before it is too late."
Hassi, in addition, reported that guards discovered the bodies of 30 "ISIS" militants, and managed to capture two military tanks and other cars from the terrorists.
The North African country has been struggling with instability since 2011, when its then dictator Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in an insurgency backed by NATO airstrikes.
Since then, armed groups and regional factions have been fighting for power.
The terrorist group, meanwhile, took advantage of the power vacuum to assert its presence and declared Sirte as its base in Africa, where beheadings and other crimes are a rule of the day.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
