The report is by the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces. One cannot be sure until it is verified. The spokesperson for the LNA Ahmed al Mismari told Reuters that the LNA had taken the ports and was pursuing the BDB toward Bin Jawad about 30 km or 20 miles west of Es Sider. Pro-Haftar tweets are sprouting quickly on Twitter. Reuters noted that the claims could not be independently verified. The counter attack was not unexpected as Haftar had been mobilizing forces for some time and there had already been intensive air bombardment of BDB positions. There are no reports yet of any further damage to the oil infrastructure which has already been damaged in previous attacks especially by the Islamic State. The LNA commander in the nearby city of Ajdabiya, Akram Buhalika, said that ground, air, and naval forces had been used in the offensive.
However, even the anti-Haftar Libya Observer tweets: “Dignity Operation retakes Ras Lanuf oil port from Benghazi Defense Brigades” Dignity Operation refers to Haftar’s campaign against Islamist opponents launched in May 2014. This would suggest that Ras Lanuf has probably been retaken at the least. Buhailka, said that the BDB fighters had shut off the coastal road between Es Sider and Ras Lanuf trying to halt the LNA advance. This fits in with the Liberty Observer admission that at least Ras Lanuf had been captured.
A number of tweets discuss the situation. Several suggest that the counter-offensive retook the two ports such as this one: “#Breaking – LNA has recaptured Ras Lanuf and Essidra oil terminals. #Libya” This brought the following tweet in reply:”@Eljarh suppositions … moreover #PFG fro,m #LNA have 600 troops on site sent by #Barghati” Eljah was the original tweeter. Troops were sent by GNA the unity government. LNA likely a typo. There is also a tweet with a photo allegedly showing LNA in possession of Ras Lanuf. At times photos come from an earlier time. We should know soon whether Haftar’s forces are back in control. If they are this will increase Haftar’s power against the UN-supported Government of National Accord(GNA) as well as defeating once again the Benghazi Defense Brigades.
As shown on the appended video, Haftar seized the four oil ports in the middle of last September. Two earlier counter-attacks failed miserably but the present seizures of Ras Lanuf and Es Sider and local area towns took place over a week ago. Reinforcements were sent from the west and Petroleum Forces Guards were sent by the GNA The BDB handed over control of the ports to them.
UPDATE: BDB sources confirm that LNA has retaken the ports and BDB under attack: Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Abdelwahed, reporting from Tripoli, said Benghazi Defence Brigades’ sources confirmed reports that the ports were lost and its fighters were under attack
