Haftar forces warn they will attack oil firms

[jakeXT]

Libyan General Khalifa Haftar's forces are to attack oil firms in Misrata in response to Libya Dawn's targeting of oil tankers in the Oil Crescent with guided missiles, the groups spokesperson Ali Al-Hasi warned.

Al-Hasi said that his forces gave a 72-hour ultimatum to the Libya Dawn forces in order for them to withdraw from the Oil Crescent. The ultimatum ends this evening. He added that seven tankers were attacked and firefighters extinguished four of the fires.

The Oil Crescent is an area located in Al-Sidra Seaport, close to the city of Serte. It includes 19 oil tankers; each large enough to carry 250,000 barrels.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/16100-haftar-forces-warn-they-will-attack-oil-firms

Switched sides in the 1980s

As a young army officer, Hifter took part in the coup that brought Gaddafi to power in 1969. But Hifter switched sides in the late 1980s, after he was captured while fighting for Gaddafi’s army in a war in neighboring Chad.

He became the leader of a rebel group called the Libyan National Army, which he claimed received U.S. assistance. He later sought refuge in the United States. He apparently became a U.S. citizen — he voted in Virginia in elections in 2008 and 2009, records show.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/rival-militias-prepare-for-showdown-in-tripoli-after-takeover-of-parliament/2014/05/19/cb36acc2-df6f-11e3-810f-764fe508b82d_story.html