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By Libya Herald reporters.
Benghazi and Tunis, 10 March 2017:
The counterattack at Ras Lanuf and Sidra by the Libyan National Army (LNA) anticipated for today has not occurred though there have been further air strikes on targets in and around the two oil terminal towns.
In the course of the day eight seriously-wounded soldiers were transferred from hospitals in Ajdabiya and Brega to Benghazi’s Jalaa Hospital. There are no reports of other LNA battle casualties.
The most significant development has been a call from Presidency Council head Faiez Serraj that the control of the Oil Crescent export terminals should be handed over a “unified” Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), under the direct control of the National Oil Corporation. Serraj also called for all other forces to withdraw from the region.
His PFG commander, Idris Bukhamada, moved three days ago with a force of unknown strength to occupy the terminals at Ras Lanuf and Sidra. Today the Prsidency Council’s defence minister, Mahdi Al-Bargathi, said he was sending 600 military personnel to reinforce the PFG.
It would appear that this extra contingent, being drawn from six “battalions” of western forces under Bargathi’s control are not PFG members. Therefore the move contradicts Serraj’s appeal for the demilitarisation of the Oil Crescent.
Meanwhile reports that Bukhamada has been in contact with the PFG commander appointed by Khalifa Hafter, Brigadier Muftah Al-Magarief, have been denied by the eastern-based PFG.
For the Benghazi Defence Brigades and its leader Mustafa Sharksi, the arrival of the PFG was supposed to free his forces for their continued push on towards Benghazi. Serraj’s proposed mutual withdrawal would seem to fly in the fact of Sharksi’s intention.
UN envoy Martin Kobler tweeted today that all engaged in the Oil Crescent fighting must comply with international law. He implored them to “end any form of hostage taking, arbitrary detention and summary executions”. He added: “All prisoners must be treated humanely.”.
