Libya's NOC says Jet Fuel Illegally Shipped to East
A shipment of jet fuel was shipped to eastern Libya recently in violation of United Nations sanctions and other international agreements, Libya's National Oil Company (NOC) said on Monday in a statement."The shipment came from the UAE to Benghazi on a ship called Gulf Petroleum 4 and has been in Benghazi port for a number of days," NOC said, adding that it had informed the United Nations. (Reporting by Angus McDowall; Editing by David Clarke)
Libyan Army Fights to Capture Benghazi Port
Clashes erupted in the center of Libya's main eastern city Benghazi on Thursday as pro-government forces pushed to take the port district from Islamist militants, and seven soldiers were killed, witnesses and military officials said. The port, the main gateway for food imports into eastern Libya, has had to close. The fighting mirrors a wider struggle in the oil producing North African state where two governments and parliaments, allied to rival armed groups, are vying for control almost four years after Muammar Gaddafi fell to an armed uprising. Backed by forces led by General Khalifa Haftar, army special forces in mid-October launched an offensive against Islamists in Benghazi, expelling them from the airport area and from several camps the army had lost during the summer.
Benghazi Port Still Closed, Imports Rerouted
The commercial port in Libya's second city, Benghazi, remains closed due to fighting between pro-government and Islamist forces, forcing wheat imports to make a detour via Tobruk harbour, a port official said. Benghazi has been a battlefield since May, when former army general Khalifa Haftar declared war on Islamist fighters who had been roaming unchallenged. Its commercial port was still closed for wheat and other imports, a port official said. "Some wheat imports, though in small quantities, come via Tobruk," he said. Tobruk lies some 600 km (375 miles) to the east of Benghazi near the border with Egypt. It has much better security and its home to the country's elected parliament, which fled Tripoli after a rival group seized the capital in August.
Libya – Cargo Suspended at Benghazi Port
Hapag-Lloyd said it will not accept any cargo for Benghazi port until further notice. The shipping line said it is uncertain of enhancements to the situation as fighting in the area persists, and it will inform customers as soon as cargo can be loaded again.
Violence Closes Libya's Benghazi Port
Libya has closed Benghazi's commercial port due to clashes between the army and Islamist fighters in the area, a port official said on Tuesday. "All ship movements and discharging of imports have been stopped," said the official. The port is a main entry point for wheat, fuel and other imports in eastern Libya. Reporting by Ayman al-Warfalli
Libyan Navy Ship Hit During Fighting in Benghazi Port, Smoke Rising
A Libyan navy ship docked at Benghazi port was hit during heavy fighting on Monday between the army and Islamist fighters in Libya's second-largest city, residents said. A Reuters reporter could see smoke rising from the port area, to which the army had earlier moved heavy guns to attack positions of Islamist fighters. A security source said the ship was sinking but this could not immediately be confirmed. (Reporting by Feras Bosalum and Ayman al-Warfalli; Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Catherine Evans)
