Gunmen attack Libya’s largest oilfield

By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI (AA) – Armed gunmen attacked El-Sharara, Libya’s largest oilfield, south of the war-torn country on Monday, according to a Libyan security source.

The attack targeted station 186, one of the main stations of the oil facility, the source with East Libya-based forces led by commander Khalifa Haftar told Anadolu Agency.

The attack was repelled by Haftar’s forces, which are in control of the oilfield, the source said.

No casualties were reported.

El-Sharara oilfield produces more than 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day, forming roughly one third of the oil-rich country's production.

Libya holds Africa’s largest crude reserves, but eight years of conflict and violence in the country since the 2011 ouster of strongman Muammar Gaddafi have hobbled production and exports.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat