IS Beheaded Libyan Guards in Attack That Seized 9 Foreigners

[Valin]

ABC News/AP:

ESAM MOHAMED and TERESA CEROJANO

TRIPOLI, Libya — Mar 9, 2015

 

Militants from Libya's Islamic State affiliate beheaded eight Libyan guards in an attack on a central oil field last week during which the extremists abducted nine foreigners, a Libyan spokesman said Monday. In the Philippines, authorities said Monday that four of their nationals were among the nine abducted from the oil field. An Austrian, a Czech, a Bangladeshi and a Ghana national were also taken while one hostage remains unidentified.

 

Friday's attack on the al-Ghani oil field near the town of Zalla, some 750 kilometers (470 miles) southeast of the capital, Tripoli, was part of a series of deadly assaults on Libya's oil lucrative infrastructure by the Islamic State group. The attacks in recent weeks have forced Libya to declare 11 fields non-operational, including al-Ghani, and invoke a force majeure clause that exempts the state from contractual obligations.

 

Libya's military spokesman, Ahmed al-Mesmari, warned that Islamic State militants' long-term goal is to take over Libya's petroleum industry. "This is the lifeline of the Libyan people," he said Monday, adding the consequences of such a loss would be dire.

 

(Snip)