Eastern commander sees oil ports attack as involving Al Qaeda

(March 11) A leaked recording between a Haftar military officer and a media tycoon show a propaganda effort to portray opponents of Haftar who recently seized the Benghazi Defense Brigades as al-Qaeda.

The recording broadcast by al-Nabaa TV featured an officer whose identity is unknown together with media tycoon Mahmoud al-Misrati. The officer tells al-Misrati to mount a campaign to smear Haftar's opponents saying:

According to the aired recording, which Middle East Eye could not verify independently, the officer said that Haftar’s forces wanted to spread the message that al-Qaeda militants were involved in taking over the ports in the oil crescent, saying “al-Qaeda, al-Qaeda, al-Qaeda… they will become in the eyes of the people, al-Qaeda..People have started saying that these are not al-Qaeda…we must plant the idea in people’s thoughts that they are al-Qaeda,”

Al-Misrati phoned the station after the call and said that he had no concern about the content of the call:“Firstly, prove that it’s my voice. Secondly, there is nothing at all in the recording that would hurt me… all of the content in the recording, it is correct that I say it and I write it in my posts, and therefore I have nothing to hide. Yes, I do steer public opinion. I manufacture public opinion and shape it, and we are the ones who guide people.”

The article says that Al-Misrati was a former adviser of the Dialogue team of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR). Although the article does not say so, presumably he is also a spokesperson for Haftar and his Dignity Operation, Ahmed Al-Mismari. Even if he isn't, Al-Mismari has also reported on connections between Al Qaeda and the attacks:Spokesperson of Dignity Operation Ahmed Al-Mismari claimed on Saturday that some members of the internationally recognized UN-proposed Presidency Council and High Council of State held secret meetings with leaders of Al-Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood to mastermind the attack on the oil crescent region by Benghazi Defense Brigades. This is a coalition of all terrorist groups in western Libya against the Libyan National Army in the east,No need to have a leaked tape to see the plan in action.

However, the recordings also claim that the former ambassador to the UAE Aref Nayed is doing "great work" in the United States and is supported by Haftar. Nayed addressed the Heritage Foundation in Washington and claimed that the ports taken from Haftar had been captured by Al Qaeda according to the recordings. Mattia Toaldo, a policy fellow of the European Council on Foreign Relations said that with Nayed's Heritage Foundation appearance the campaig to link the BDB attack with Al Qaeda was going full steam. Toaldo noted: It is hard to see how an al-Qaeda-associated group could ever decide to hand over oil terminals to a UN-backed government.” It is possible that this could be done for tactical reasons but given that Haftar appears to associate the PC with Al Qaeda as well, it just amounts to one Al Qaeda group handing the ports over to another one. The BDB do no doubt have some radical Islamist militia groups among the umbrella formation.

The recording claims that Haftar has contacted Egyptian officials and has been promised that Egypt will support a counter-offensive to retake the ports. This might increase the number of Misrata militias coming to the defence of the BDB. The recording also admits that Haftar continues to use mercenaries. Izzed Aqee, a political scientist claimed the recording is not convincing. He does not see Egypt supporting Haftar any longer and having "left Haftar to his fate". Aqee claims that Haftar had offended Sisi by not meeting with GNA PM Faiez Serraj, a meeting set up by Sisi. Perhaps, Aqee is correct but it seems more likely as another analyst claims that Sisi may be moving away from one-sided support for Haftar. It could be as well that Sisi wanted to punish Haftar for not cooperating with his planned meeting with Serraj. However, Haftar's bonds with Sisi may be strong enough to survive this setback. Russia appears to want to keep relations with the GNA as well while promoting better relations with Haftar.

There are also passages in the recording that urge Islamic State (IS) operatives in the city of Bani Walid to remain covert and not show their black flags. This seems to confirm the views of some Haftar opponents that he has collaborated with the Islamic State. Haftar was already suspected of allowing IS militants to leave Derna and travel to Sirte and Bani Walid. It could be however that the recording is itself part of a counter-Haftar campaign.

France24 TV channel has reported that Libya National Army (LNA) forces under the command of Khalifa Haftar are mobilizing for a decisive battle to recapture the two oil ports seized by the BDB over a week ago. There are also reports of more militia entering from the west to aid in the defence of the ports. Perhaps this weekend or Monday the counter-attack will begin. There seems no sign of a cease-fire or negotiation as many countries and the UN have advocated.

General Haftar beats back counter attack on Libyan oil ports and advances towards Sirte

Forces of the Petroleum Facilities Guard(PFG) headed by Ibrahim Jodhran, retreated from Es Sidra and Ras Lanuf just a few hours after having retaken them from General Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) forces.

The counter-attack was repulsed with air attacks that appear to be by foreign airplanes. The PFG accused Egypt and the UAE of carrying out the bombings. They said four PFG fighers were killed. Defence Minister Al-Mihdi Al-Baraghati said: “There are strong indications that UAE and Egyptian warplanes have bombed PFG forces in Ras Lanuf and Sidra, we are now making sure of these indications”.

Mohamad Ibset, a spokesperson for Haftar's forces confirmed that there had been a counter-attack by the PFG at least on Ras Lanuf but did not mention El Sidra that the PFG also claim to have attacked. Spokesperson for the PFG, Ali al-Hassi claimed: “We attacked Al-Sidra and Ras Lanuf, and Haftar’s forces are trying to hit us with their warplanes.” The clashes halted the first loading of oil cargo from Ras Lanuf since 2014. Haftar had agreed to turn over the ports to the Tripoli-based NOC as long as the NOC lifted the force majeure covering the ports so that oil could be exported.

There is a merger between the two rival national oil companies (NOC), the one based in Tripoli associated with the GNA and the other in Bayda associated with the HoR government. The merger was not completed as the HoR rejected it but negotiations between the heads of the two NOCs are to continue this week. Meanwhile Haftar appears to have accepted the Tripoli NOC for now. Unlike the PFG who accept the GNA and had a deal with them to export oil, Haftar does not recognize the GNA.

Haftar's forces were not content just to repel the counter attack. They have advanced to take control of towns further to the west that PFG forces had captured earlier from the Islamic State. A tweet claims: "#Libya army 101 Brigade takes control of Bin Jawad from Ibrahim Jadran's forces." However, Haftar's forces are advancing even further west towards Sirte with another tweet claiming: "Some PFG units to hand themselves and arms to LNA in Harawah, after local tribesmen guarenteed them a just trial." Another tweet says: "Reports that pro haftir forces have entered Ben Jawad and heading westward to harawa about 70km east of sirte" . A later tweet announces that Harawa was captured: "Harawa announced as under control of LNA , 40 PFG members taken in custody." A final tweet sounds an ominous note: "Col. Mo bennayel from east sirt We r ready to invade Misrata&liberate sirt from its militia any time " Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) forces are within striking distance of Sirte. The silence of the UN, its envoy Martin Kobler, and the GNA on this lightning advance of Hafter to take territory formerly under the control of forces loyal to GNA, is striking.

Libyan National Oil Company hopes to boost oil production

The National Oil Company (NOC) welcomed the announcement of the Presidency Council (PC) of the unconditional opening of several eastern oil ports by the Petroleum Facilities Guards (PFG), led by Ibrahim Jadhran.

The oil ports to re-open are Ras Lanauf, Es Sidre, and Zuetina. The NOC also said it was "announcing a new initiative to end the use of oil blockades as a political tool."

The NOC also revealed that in a phone call with its chairman Mustafa Sanalla, Musa Koni, the Vice-President of the PC claimed that the PC "had not paid the Petroleum Facilities Guard to open the ports. The only money paid to the PFG was for overdue salaries." Even if this is true, and we cannot be sure since the agreement details have not been released, some critics claim that the number of employees working for the PFG is greatly inflated. It is unlikely that Jadhran would agree to re-open the ports unless he were given some monetary incentive to do so.

After the deal was reached with Jadhran in Ras Lanauf with the help of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General SRSG), Martin Kobler, Sanalla had written a blistering letter to him criticizing the deal and virtually calling Jadhran a deceiver and crook. Jadhran fired back calling Mustafa's letter worthless. Jadhran appears to have won. It is now as if no dispute ever existed. Sanalla said:“I am pleased the Presidency Council agrees that we cannot reward individuals who hold Libya’s oil hostage.There can be no back room deals if we are to build trust. I call now on other groups that are using the blockade as a tactic to let Libya’s oil flow freely. In the West of Libya, 400,000 b/d of production is shut in at the Sharara and El-Feel fields”.

Sanalla claimed that it now appears that the PFG has understood the costs of a blockade are not only to the nation but to the blockaders themselves and that a blockade does not benefit anyone. At the very least, the blockade ensured that the PFG has their back salary demands met. Other blockaders, Sanalla claimed, must also understand that blockades do not benefit anyone. Of course they do, if the government gives in to the demands of the blockaders, to ensure that there are oil exports.

There is no mention of the fact that the agreement between the rival NOC's one in the east and the other in the west to merge, seems not yet to have been ratified by the HoR which has demanded changes to the agreement. Nor is there any mention of the fact that important groups have not given up on being part of any agreement before oil is allowed to flow. The tribes and their Council who control oil fields feeding into the oil crescent oil ports demand the NOC negotiate with them and have the approval of the HoR government. The Libyan National Army is demanding that any tankers intending to export oil should have a permit from the eastern-based NOC. The joint NOC is not even mentioned.

Sanalla welcomed the PC decision to budget money to the NOC to raise production, claiming it will enable the NOC to boost production up to 900,000 barrels per day by the end of this year. Sanalla said:“Now we will begin working with the Presidency Council and the Energy Committee of the House or Representatives to restart exports from the ports that were closed and from the fields that supply them. We need to be clear there are still big military, political and legal obstacles that must be resolved”, he warned...In the spirit of national unity, we urge the tribes and the municipalities in the oil-producing areas all over Libya to cooperate and join our commitment to let Libya’s oil flow freely. Libyan oil is for all Libyans”.

Notice that Sanalla contemplates working with a committee of the HoR. The NOC is in effect recognizing a government other than the PC and GNA. The UN warns against anyone working with parallel institutions rather than the GNA but this does not seem to apply to institutions of the GNA themselves.

Jadhran said that the terminals could be working again within a few days. This must surely be on a very limited basis as Es Sidre and Ras Lanauf tank farms and infrastructure have been severely damaged first by former Salvation government's Libya Dawn forces in February 2015 and later by the Islamic State.

Unity Libyan government signs deal to open oil ports

Two members of the Presidency Council (PC) of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), Musa Koni and Ahmed Mahdi, along with defense minister Mahdi Al-Barghathi, flew to Ras Lanuf today to sign a deal to open the terminal there and at Es Sidre.

Barghathi and Koni both flew in from Cairo, where they had been with GNA Prime Minister Faiez Serraj where they had talks with the rival House of Representatives head Ageela Saleh. The deal is with Ibrahim Jadhran, head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG). While details of the deal are yet to be released it is understood that a significant amount will be paid to Jadhran, including back salaries of what he claims are his 23,000 PFG forces. Some claim these numbers have been inflated and the real number is closer to 12,000 with only about 3,000 of those working within the PFG.

The deal seems to have been worked out between Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG), Martin Kobler, who went to Ras Lanuf, and met with Jadhran about a week ago. The head of the Libyan National Oil Company (NOC) Mustafa Sanallah wrote a letter to Kobler filled with criticisms of the deal. Apparently, Kobler did not consult Sanallah on the deal. The Presidency Council of the GNA must have agreed to sign the resulting agreement.

Sanallah has said he will not lift force majeure on the ports if there is an agreement to pay Jadhran. As long as there is force majeure, exporters have no guarantee that contracts will be met making it very risky to use the ports.

Sanallah claimed the deal set a terrible precedent through rewarding Jadhran for extorting money from the state through shutting the ports.

Sanallah has rejected the agreement with Jadhran, accusing him of being a trickster. Sanallah also accused UN envoy Martin Kobler of backing one of the biggest deceivers in the country. Sanallah accused Presidency Council member Fathi Mijibri, a close ally to Jadhran, of using his position to capture the NOC. Sanallah even threatened to withdraw NOC recognition of the UN-installed government. Before that happens I would expect that Sanallah would be fired. There has been no statement from Sanallah as yet about the signing of the deal.

The Observer reports the government agreed to pay an LYD 241 million to Jodran in order to resume exports, but a source confirmed that only LYD 85 million out of the total amount has been paid to him so far. Ajdabiya mayor Salem Jodran, brother of Ibrahim Jodran, confirmed that the agreement to reopen the ports was reached after ensuring the rights of PFG employees and their salaries.

Stakeholders who have control of oil infrastructure have long insisted they need to be compensated for keeping ports open, allowing exports or production. Tribes south of the ports want some compensation as does Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, whose forces control some fields. The House of Representatives (HoR) government also demands revenue from export sales.. The latter insists that any tanker that loads oil must have a permit from the eastern-based National Oil Company. There is supposed to be one merged NOC but the deal establishing it has not been accepted by the HoR.

Tribes who control oil fields feeding oil crescent ports demand they be part of any export agreement

Tribes who control eastern oilfields said any agreement between Ibrahim Jodhran, head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), and UN envoy Martin Kobler to reopen oil exporting ports does not cover their areas of oil production and pumping.

Yesterday, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Martin Kobler flew to the eastern oil port of Ras Lanauf to meet with Jodhran. Kobler appeared happy to meet with him since he supports the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and would like to see the oil ports he controls exporting oil once again. Jodhran cost the Libyan economy billions by keeping the ports closed for extended periods over disputes with the government for better terms.

In 2013, Jodhran set up a Cyrenaica government with its own cabinet. He also established a separate oil company and tried to export crude oil through the company. The tanker Morning Glory was intercepted by the U.S. and its cargo unloaded in the western part of Libya. Few details were given of the talks but Kobler welcomed Jodhran's backing of the Presidency Council (PC) and the GNA. Jodhran is a strong opponent of the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Khalifa Haftar. The LNA is the armed forces of the House of Representatives (HoR) government of PM Abdullah Al-Thinni.

The tribes who control the eastern oilfields have formed a Supreme Council for the Wahat Oil, Gas and Water Basin areas. The UN, the international community, and the GNA are anxious to quickly ramp up Libya's oil production and exports. Kobler met Jodhran to further arrangements to open the Ras Lanauf and Es Sidre ports that the PFG control. Increased exports would generate badly needed revenue for the GNA. There was an agreement reached between the two rival National Oil Companies (NOC) to merge, but the HoR government has rejected the deal unless certain conditions are met.

However, opening the ports will be of little use unless there is a steady supply of oil coming in from the Wahat Basin fields. Kobler had mentioned that the recent Tunis talks with Libyan Dialogue members had focused on people's concerns and those included oil production. Kobler tweeted: "Glad to hear support of #PC/#GNA from Ibrahim Jadhran and tribal leaders. #RasLanuf #Libya " The tribal leaders that Kobler mentions obviously did not include those from the Supreme Council of those tribes who control the oil fiellds supplying the ports.

Jonathan Winer, the U.S. special envoy for Libya, tweeted that Libya needed to pump oil to generate revenue that could pay salaries. UK ambassador Peter Millet told a UK House of Lords committee at the end of June that the plan was for Libya to increase production from less than 200,000 barrels a day now to around 700,000 barrels a day. This is still considerably less than production just before Gadaffi was overthrown, which was about 1.5 million barrels a day. However, as Millet notedthe main obstacles to increased oil production were not technical but political and asked significantly " are people in control of pipelines ready to permit it ...and at what price.?

A statement from the Supreme Council makes clear the relevance of Milltet's remark. It said that "any political agreement between the UN Representative Martin Kobler with any armed groups regarding the commencement of oil exports is a non-agreement and does not represent the Basin area and its inhabitants and does not represent an agreement to restart of production from the oilfields situated within the area of the (seven) Wahat Basin." The statement went on to say that the Council would not be committed to any agreement reached without its own knowledge and consent.

The Council also demanded that any agreement must have the permission of the Al-Thinni government of the HoR and the eastern National Oil Company associated with the HoR. There is no mention of the agreement between the two rival oil companies to merge or of the new merged oil company. Just to make the need for the Council to be involved absolutely clear, the statement went on to say that those controlling the export terminals do not in any way represent the production, manufacturing and pumping areas. The statement concludes: ‘‘If Mr Kobler wishes to talk about the restart of Libyan oil production, he has to communicate with the Supreme Council of the Basin’.’

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Oil production and export in Libya may increase only slowly

Recently the two rival Libyan National Oil Companies (NOC), one based in the east in Bayda and the other in the west in Tripoli, have agreed to unify. This is just one small step in restoring production and exports of oil from Libya.

The Tripoli-based NOC is the one recognized by the UN, most of the international community and the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), while the Bayda-based NOC is recognized by the rival House of Representatives (HoR) based in Tobruk. The HoR has yet to recognize the GNA or vote confidence in it as required by the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA).

The unified NOC is described in a recent Digital Journal article. It is also reported in the Libya Gazette and here. While some analysts predict a rapid rise in production and exports, there are still many issues unresolved as a recent article in Bloomberg reports.

The article notes that the political division between the GNA and the HoR is still not solved. The agreement retains Mustafa Sanailla, the chair of the Tripoli-based NOC as chair of the new NOC and Naji al-Maighrabi, chair of the Bayda-based NOC, becomes a board member of the new NOC. In order to reach the agreement it was agreed that the headquarters of the NOC would move to Benghazi and that board meetings would occur there as soon as security admits. This is a move fraught with danger for the GNA, since Benghazi is controlled by the HoR and protected by Khalifa Haftar, the commander-in-chief of the Libyan National Army. Neither the HoR nor Haftar recognize the GNA. Even in negotiating with the eastern NOC, the GNA is violating its own prohibitions from dealing with "parallel institutions" not recognized as part of the legitimate structures of the GNA which is recognized by the UN and most countries as sole legitimate Libyan government. The HoR has gained considerable more leverage and legitimacy. The same general processes are under way in agreements between the two competing Libyan Central Banks. As long as the continued political division remains the agreement with regards to oil will be fragile although no doubt both sides wish to avoid returning to a situation where the competing parties prevent each other from producing and exporting oil resulting in a lose-lose game.

However, there are other factors that threaten increased production and export of oil. Much of the countries oil structure is damaged. Some of it was caused by attacks by the Islamic State but in other clashes as well. In many cases, the oil fields are in territory controlled by forces hostile to those in control of the ports where the oil is exported. Agreements have to be reached between groups such as the Petroleum Forces Guard and General Hafter who controls some of the oil fields.

Richard Mallinson, an analyst at Energy Aspects in London said:“I am not convinced the announcement about the reunification of the two rival NOCs will actually deliver any increase in production any time soon." The new government is struggling to unify the various factions and Haftar and his allies “have sufficient control of infrastructure and politics in the east to prevent the GNA from broadening its mandate.”

These divisions have resulted in oil production being 85 percent less than before the overthrow of Gadaffi. For example in the southwest of Libya, the El Feel and Sharar oil fields which together are Libya's largest are controlled by GNA allies. However, the pipeline linking the fields to the coast export ports are blocked by Zintani militia affiliated with General Hafar. The shipping terminal is controlled by allies of the Tripoli branch of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG). In the east, some fields are controlled by Haftar's LNA forces, many of the export facilities are held by units of the PFG headed by Ibrahim Jodhran aligned at present with the GNA and a foe of Haftar.

As analyst Mattia Toaldo notes the merger between the two NOC's is a welcome step forward but "restarting production depends on forces who actually control installations". No single group has control. Those who do are often at odds with others. While output has increased in June by about 40,000 barrels a day to 320,00 barrels a month it is still quite low.

There are splits even within the Petroleum Facilities Guard with the Brega PFG backing Haftar. Exports remain shut down at Ras Lanuf, Zuetina, and Es Sider under the control of members of the PFG headed by Ibrahim Jodhran. Es Sider facilities are severely damaged and tanks are damaged at Ras Lanuf. The facilities suffer from lack of maintenance as well.

As Toaldo remarks, Haftar wants to spoil the LPA because one section deprives him of his position as commander in chief of the armed forces. As Tore Hamming, an analyst at Risk Intelligence based in Denmark puts it there may be more clashes between forces loyal to the GNA and those of Haftar's LNA: “It will probably become more violent, unless they find a solution over Haftar and his role in the Libyan setup. In this struggle, control of the oil becomes more important. I’m not optimistic for the short to medium term.”

However, Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the Secretary-General tweets; "Invited for Libyan political dialogue meeting after eid to discuss next steps on basis of the #LPA. Eid Mubarak to all!!" Kobler is no doubt planning some new stratagem to get around the need for the HoR to vote confidence in the GNA, as required by the LPA, since he has already failed numerous times to achieve this.

Haftar gains control of 14 oil fields in Libya

According to a report in the Libya Herald, the minister of defence in the Government of National Accord (GNA), Mahdi Barghathi, flew to Tripoli from Ras Lanuf where he just finished talks with Ibrahim Jodhran, head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG).

The Herald reports:

He flew into Mitiga from Ras Lanuf where yesterday he had further talks with Ibrahim Jadhran, the commander of the Petroleum Facilities’ Guards (PFG) in the central region. The meeting coincided with reports that the Libyan National Army, under the control of Khalifa Hafter, has now taken control of more than a dozen oil fields in the Sirte basin that before the so-called Islamic State started raiding them had been secured by the PFG.The Libya Observer earlier reported that Haftar had seized 14 oil fields in the Mirada and Zilla basins.

Jadhran supports the GNA and is opposed to Haftar, who in turn opposes Jadhran and Barghathi, even though he is or was part of Operation Dignity. The Haftar-led military operation started in May 2014 and is intended to clear Libya of Islamists who are his enemies, including those in Misrata who are fighting the Islamic State. GNA ministers are heading to Tripoli to start working from there. Apparently Barghathi left Benghazi and Ras Lanuf without "permission from Haftar." Haftar has twice kept prime minister of the HoR, Al-Thinni, from flying out of Libya.

When Barghathi left Benghazi he went to Sidra to inspect PFG forces. Jhadran welcomed him and along with his forces pledged loyalty to Barghatti. Barghatti warned that the battle against the Islamic State could turn into a civil war. If the PFG support the GNA and Barghatti, this will mean that Haftar has yet to secure the three oil ports in the crescent that are guarded by the PFG. Some analysts report that the LNA under Haftar will not attack Sirte until it has secured the oil fields. No doubt Haftar would also like to secure the oil ports guarded by the PFG. There have been reports that Jodhran had been replaced by the Al-Thinni government, but if this report is true it has not taken effect. The situation is confusing in that there are conflicting reports. Not long ago a report was issued that an agreement had been struck between the PFG and the LNA but this account contradicts other reports such as the one just discussed. The LNA is in the area of the ports but so far there is no sign of any clashes between the LNA and the PFG. There are no clashes with the Islamic State either which is only a few miles to the west. Haftar is busy attacking the Shura Council fighters in Derna who had been instrumental in driving IS from Derna. He may wait until he has defeated them and secured more oil ports before attacking the IS, unless the Misrata militia whom he considers his enemies gain too much ground. Haftar no doubt wants the HoR government to control as much territory as it can.

Haftar attacks Islamists instrumental in driving ISIS out of Derna

The spokesperson for Haftar's militias, Ahmed Al-Mismari, said their forces were besieging Derna from four directions. They are ready to advance into the city at any moment to liberate it from terrorism.

Most media are deafeningly quiet about what is happening. According to the Libya Observer, the Derna Operation is called "Al Burkan," the volcano. The spokesperson claims they do not aim to enter the city but of isolate it and control its entrances. However, there are already reports of clashes between Haftar militias and revolutionaries of the Derna Shura Council who run the city. The Observer reports that the clashes took place in the A-Heela district which previously saw the revolutionaries fight with the Islamic State. While Haftar's Libyan National Army forces claimed credit for driving the Islamic State from Derna, the Shura Council of Mujahideen said that Haftar forces actually hindered their fight against the Islamic State. The Observer says:

 It is worth mentioning that Derna Shura Council revolutionaries announced on April 20 the liberation of the city from IS, as they were killed and fought out of their last hideout in Al-Fatayeh after months-long clashes without any help from Haftar’s militias, which call whoever does not pledge allegiance to them “terrorists”.In addition, the remaining militants of IS who were fighting in Al-Fatyeh escaped through five checkpoints and locations for Haftar’s militias when they were retreating from Derna toward Sirte without ever being intercepted by them, knowing that the IS militants attacked the Oil Facilities Guard on their way, which was regarded by the latter s a clear coordination between IS and Haftar’s militias to control the oil fields and ports.

Reporting on events in Libya often takes the form of narratives supporting one side or the other, that may or may not be true. In a recent article I gave an account of events that included an agreement between Haftar's forces and the Petroleum Forces Guards(PFG) that the LNA, Haftar's forces, could go through Ras Lanuf and that the PFG was at their disposal. However, Commander of Ajdabiya Border Division, Colonel Bashir Budhifra, has denied that Haftar's forces have been given permission to pass through the area. Of the deal that LNA Colonel Wanis Bokhmada was supposed to have made he said: "Colonel Wanis Bokhmada came to show support to the army and Petroleum Facilities Guard in the oil crescent region, and to express condolences and check on the health conditions of the wounded fighters,

Whatever the reason, Haftar appears not be in the process of attacking Sirte even though he started out for the area well over a week ago. Instead he is attacking the forces that did most of the fighting that drove the Islamic State out of Derna. This is not the first attack on those forces. As long ago as February unidentified planes had bombed the revolutionaries and Haftar kept on with air attacks after the Islamic State had withdrawn from Derna. It will be interesting to say what if anything Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General(SRSG) has to say about Haftar's operations in Derna. No doubt, Haftar thinks that his operations come within the exceptions to the supposed cessation of hostilities that is part of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA). The war on terrorism can continue. For Haftar all his opponents are terrorists. In the case of Derna one group within the Shura Council, Ansar al-Sharia are actually characterized by some countries including the US as terrorists. However, other Islamists often cooperate with them as happens in a number of Shura Councils.

Most reports of what is happening come from tweets. For example, about the clashes between revolutionaries and the LNA there is this tweet: "#Libya-#Derna: #MSCD claims to have destroyed 3 military vehicles of #LNA/Haftar forces in al-Hila & Budhahak" MSCD is the Mujahideen Shura Council of Derna.

Libyan Petroleum Facilities Guards said to reach agreement with Libyan National Army

Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) head Ibrahim Jadhran has apparently agreed to support the Libyan National Army (LNA) under commander-in-chief Khalifa Haftar in its plan to liberate Sirte from the Islamic State, according to the Libya Herald.

This decision follows negotiations in the oil export port of Ras Lanuf with the commander of the Saiqa Special Forces, Wanis Bukhamada. The LNA forces had just arrived earlier in the day in Ras Lanuf. The town is only 60 kilometers from Bin Jawad, the eastern limit of control of the Islamic State. There are also said to be a number of LNA aircraft at the Ras Lanuf airport. The PFG will be put at the disposal of the LNA under the agreement.

There is a two-pronged operation from the south and the east. LNA-allied forces are now in Zillah about 140 kilometers to the south of Ras Lanuf. There were clashes near Zilla between Islamist militia associated with Misrata and rebels from Sudan loyal to Haftar. The objective of Haftar and his allies may be to secure nearby oil fields.

Jadhran has been a bitter foe of Haftar and many had feared that there would be battles between the PFG and the LNA for control of the oil fields. Apparently Bukhamada who is highly regarded was specifically sent to head off such a battle. He earlier had talks with Salah Al-Ataiwish head of the Magharba tribe to which he belongs. Al-Ataiwish favors the LNA offensive against Sirte adding pressure on Jadrhan to come to terms. A Magharba delegation in Benghazi also had talks today with boycotting Presidential Council member Ali Gatrani in which they affirmed their support of the LNA. Gatrani is a Haftar loyalist.

The position of Jadhran is not clear. He had recently been fired by the Al-Thinni HoR government and also Haftar, but he and the PFG ignored the order. Jadhran supported the GNA and the Presidency Council led by PM Faiez Serraj. He also supported the Tripoli-based National Oil Company. Perhaps he has changed his position and reconciled with the HoR. Perhaps the LNA has agreed that he remain as head of the PFG as long as he does not support the GNA and its NOC. The Herald article does not clarify these aspects of the situation.

The PC had demanded that any attack on the Islamic State be under the auspices of a unified command set out by them as commander in chief of the army as described in this tweet:Mohamed Eljarh

‏@Eljarh #Libya PC takes 1st decision as Commander in Chief of Armed Forces to form Joint Ops Room for #Sirte western frontThe description of the PC as "Commander in Chief of Armed Forces" as set out in the Libya Political Agreement (LPA) in section 8 of the additional provisions will infuriate members of the HoR and Haftar loyalists. Even those members of the HoR who support the GNA wanted the section deleted. Now it is activated there will be even more conflict between the HoR and the GNA. Kobler has not explained how he hopes to get the HoR to vote confidence in the GNA. Until he gets the vote of confidence, there is no legislature of the GNA since the HoR is its legislature. There was to be a meeting of the HoR in Ghadames on Wednesday but it appears not to have taken place. Recent developments are creating even more conflict between the GNA and the HoR with no sign of any reconciliation.

The decision of the PFG will be a blow to the Presidency Council. The Misratan forces have said they will obey the PC order. They were planning a separate assault to liberate Sirte. While they paused the Islamic State launched its own offensive towards Misrata and the South driving back Misrata militia. There is supposed to be a counter-offensive today. So far there have not been clashes between the LNA and the Islamic State in the areas west of Sirte controlled by the Islamic State but that should happen soon. Haftar may have been anxious to control the oil ports guarded by the PFG before venturing further to the west.