IS target Libyan oil port

Tripoli, Jan 4: Islamic State (IS) militants on Monday clashed with guards near Libya’s Sidra oil port, east of its Sirte stronghold, BBC reported. Libyan news website Libya’s Channel is tweeting that seven people have been killed in the fighting, including four IS militants. Two members of the Libyan faction known as the Petrol Facilities Guard, which is defending Sidra, and one civilian have also been killed.

It is not clear how close the fighting is to the port, but IS has announced that it now controls Bin Jawad town and oilfields. In December, France said IS was aiming to control Libya’s oil wells. IS has been operating in Libya for about a year. (IANS)