In Libya, Islamist militias today attacked country's main oil production area in the east, prompting the forces of strongman Khalifa Haftar who control it to retaliate with air strikes. <br/><br/>The attack was spearheaded by the Benghazi Defence Brigades, a coalition of mostly Islamist militias and armed groups, and was backed by tribal fighters and former petroleum installation guards.<br/><br/>Colonel Moftah al-Megarief, who heads an oil facilities guard controlled by Haftar said the Islamist militia has advanced towards the oil crescent and are 15 kilometres south of the town of Nofliya. <br/><br/>Military sources said MiG-23 warplanes and Mi-35 attack helicopters bombarded a convoy of Benghazi Defence Brigades vehicles south of Nofliya.<br/><br/>Libya's oil-exporting region is bitterly contested between the country's internationally recognised and Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar.<br/>'<br/>'<br/>''''''<br/>

<br/>In Libya, Islamist militias today attacked country's main oil production area in the east, prompting the forces of strongman Khalifa Haftar who control it to retaliate with air strikes. <br/><br/>The attack was spearheaded by the Benghazi Defence Brigades, a coalition of mostly Islamist militias and armed groups, and was backed by tribal fighters and former petroleum installation guards.<br/><br/>Colonel Moftah al-Megarief, who heads an oil facilities guard controlled by Haftar said the Islamist militia has advanced towards the oil crescent and are 15 kilometres south of the town of Nofliya. <br/><br/>Military sources said MiG-23 warplanes and Mi-35 attack helicopters bombarded a convoy of Benghazi Defence Brigades vehicles south of Nofliya.<br/><br/>Libya's oil-exporting region is bitterly contested between the country's internationally recognised and Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar.<br/>'<br/>'<br/>''''''<br/>

<br/><br/>In Libya, Islamist militias today attacked country's main oil production area in the east, prompting the forces of strongman Khalifa Haftar who control it to retaliate with air strikes. <br/><br/>The attack was spearheaded by the Benghazi Defence Brigades, a coalition of mostly Islamist militias and armed groups, and was backed by tribal fighters and former petroleum installation guards.<br/><br/>Colonel Moftah al-Megarief, who heads an oil facilities guard controlled by Haftar said the Islamist militia has advanced towards the oil crescent and are 15 kilometres south of the town of Nofliya. <br/><br/>Military sources said MiG-23 warplanes and Mi-35 attack helicopters bombarded a convoy of Benghazi Defence Brigades vehicles south of Nofliya.<br/><br/>Libya's oil-exporting region is bitterly contested between the country's internationally recognised and Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar.<br/>'<br/>'<br/>''''''<br/>