Military backup has been sent to the southern region to assist the Libyan National Army (LNA) in its operation to eradicate terrorist groups in the area, ongoing since Tuesday.
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, spokesperson of the LNA Ahmed al-Mismari said in a press conference.
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.
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 oilfields.
