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IS affiliates attack Libyan oil field, kill 11

Xinhua, March 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group continued their assaults on Libya's southern oil field al-Ghani on Saturday, killing at least 11 guards, according to a security official.

The militants beheaded some of the captured guards, the security official said, adding that the Libyan army has regained control of the field but found many equipment looted and facilities damaged.

Later on Saturday, the state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC) confirmed that while most foreign staff had been evacuated to the nearby town of Zalla, seven foreign workers were still missing after the attack, including an Australian and a Filipino.

Last week, some militants loyal to the IS also mounted attacks on Libya's eastern oil plants, forcing the NOC to declare 11 oil fields non-operational.

Libya has witnessed a drastic escalation of violence after the 2011 turmoil which toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The Islamist militants and pro-secular militia have been vying for cities and towns for months, making a security havoc in the north African country. Some IS affiliates have taken the chance and seized cities like Sirte and Derna. Endit