Libya: Fighting for Control of Oil Fields

While the LNA (Libyan National Army - Eastern Libya) and the GNA (Government of National Accord (Tripoli) are fighting around Tripoli, there are some flank moves occurring against the LNA in southern Libya.

Reuters reported the following:

Forces based in eastern Libya said on Wednesday they had driven rival factions from the 70,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) El Feel oilfield after attacking the area with air strikes, leading to production being halted.

The eastern-based forces had counter-attacked after forces aligned to the internationally recognized government in Tripoli took control of the field earlier in the day. 



The El Feel location was not the only oil field under attack.

Reuters also had this:

Mi-35 attack helicopters had struck at Chadian forces preparing to attack Sharara oilfield, Libya’s biggest, a Libyan National Army (LNA) military official said. The claim could not be independently confirmed. Both sides in Libya’s conflict frequently accuse the other of depending on African mercenaries.

Note that Reuters reported the El Feel attack on Nov 27th and the Sharara attack on Nov 28th.

This isn't the first time Chad mercenaries have hit oil facilities under the control of the LNA. Back in June 2018, Chad mercenaries were involved in gaining control of the oil ports of Es Sider and Ras Lanuf. Those are oil facilities between Benghazi and Sirte along the Mediterranean Sea, which indicates that Chad mercenaries can operate deep into Libya.

This duo attack against oil fields that are somewhat close to each other appears to be too coincidental not to have been coordinated. From what I recall, Chad mercenaries are aligned with the Tebu tribe in the area. Is it possible that the GNA is attempting to form an alliance with the Tebu tribe in southern Libya?