The Libyan National Army (LNA) launched on Tuesday an operation to liberate southern Libya from terrorist groups, spokesman for the General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA) announced.
Spokesperson Ahmed Al-Mismari said in a press conference the operation aims to maintain the country’s unity, secure its resources such as oil and fuel, protect Libya’s north-eastern oil crescent from terrorists attacks, deliver humanitarian aid to southern citizens and prevent crimes in the south as well as the illegal immigration.
The oil crescent comprises vital oil ports that stretch along the coast from Sirte to Ras Lanuf in northern Libya, and extends down to the Jufra district in central Libya. Gangs and terrorists, especially those coming from the south, are known to try to move into the oil crescent region to control state revenues.
He called on southern citizens to stay away from terrorist hotbeds in Sabha and the surrounding region to avoid any harm.
The LNA spokesperson assured the public that the armed forces will not harm their possessions while carrying out the operation.
He concluded that citizens should not try to head to areas where the operation is conducted and not to post information on social media, which might help terrorist groups.
Southern Libya has suffered from continuous instability and inequitable distribution of economic resources due to the collapse of state institutions since the eruption of the 2011 uprising, a situation exploited by many terrorist groups to carve in the south their footholds.
There is also an armed conflict among Arab, Tabu, and Tuareg tribes over smuggling routes and oil fields.
The battle for the control of oil resources is at the center of a conflict between power brokers since 2011 uprising, and armed groups, fighting to destabilize Libya and strengthen their grip over oilfields.
Libya has the largest proven crude oil reserves in Africa with 48.4 billion barrels, which constitute the main pillar of Libya’s economy as oil exports provide more than 90 percent of government revenue and over 95 percent of export earnings, according to British Petroleum Statistical Review of World Energy released in June 2018.
