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By Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli and Tunis, 1 February 2016:
Though there are many reports that . . .[restrict]IS is bracing itself for airstrikes in and around Sirte, the terrorists have not abandoned their campaign to expand their territory and attack oil facilities.
IS is being blamed for the bombing yesterday of pipelines leading to the export terminal at Zueitina, north of Ajdabiya . Petroleum Facilities Guard spokesman, Ali Al-Hassi told Reuters that the attack which caused a fire, happened some 75 kilometres south of the terminal.
The PFG has also been involved in fighting around Ben Jawad, seized at the start of last month as IS advanced on the Sidra and Ras Lanuf export terminals. Hassi gave no explanation for these exchanges.
In a separate incident on the western side of the territory controlled by IS from its base in Sirte, terrorists are reported to have seized Albuirat, a small village on the road to Misrata, before the important crossroads at Abu Grain. Alwasat said that the black IS flag was seen flying from mosque’s minaret.
It is unclear if the village was taken from occupying Misratan militias after a fight or if the village had been left undefended. Recent foreign media reports from the Misrata frontline with IS said that the Misratan forces are on the highest state of alert and vigilance.
The attack on the pipelines running up to Zueitina could well have been an IS covert operation. As Tripoli NOC chief Mustafa Sanalla said last week, there was no need for the terrorist to attack in force. “They are not occupying the oil facilities. They are damaging them. And they are doing this with a small number of people”. [/restrict]
