The raid on Ras Lanuf was a hit-and-run attack carried out in the early morning of 12 September 2011[4] by two groups of fighters loyal to Muammar Gaddafi in an apparently coordinated effort to disrupt oil refinery and export operations in the National Transitional Council-administered port town of Ra's Lanuf, Libya, during the Libyan Civil War.
Sabotage attempt
According to Colonel Hamid Hassy, 15 people working at the oil terminal in Ra's Lanuf acted as arsonists, setting fire to the oil facility. They clashed with anti-Gaddafi security forces, and five were killed while the rest were arrested, Hasi said.[2] The New York Times was unable to confirm this series of events, which was initially reported by the Associated Press.[3]
Hit-and-run raid
Fadl-Allah Haroun, another anti-Gaddafi commander, reported that a convoy of up to 40 vehicles, reportedly flying the tricolour flag to appear friendly, apparently moving out of a refugee camp 30 km south of Ra's Lanuf attacked the port. He said that 10 pro-Gaddafi attackers were killed in the ensuing shootout, and the pro-Gaddafi forces were forced to retreat.[2] A refinery worker's story differed slightly, saying 14 or 15 trucks carrying pro-Gaddafi fighters had come from the west, perhaps from the loyalist stronghold of Sirte, and attacked the refinery as its 60 staff members slept. There was also no mention of casualties among the attacking force.[1] The fighting reportedly was heaviest around the administration building, with rocket attacks being launched against the refinery, but much of the complex was unscathed.[4] A spokesman for the NTC said 15 to 17 anti-Gaddafi fighters were killed in the attack.[3] There were no further reports of fighting in the city.
Benghazi-based Colonel Ahmed Omar Bani said defenders in Ra's Lanuf reported the attackers "did not look like Libyans" and suggested they could be refugees paid to fight by well-monied Gaddafi loyalists.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e Al Madany, Sherine (12 September 2011). "Gaddafi forces kill 15 at Libyan oil refinery". National Post. Ra's Lanuf. Reuters. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Gadhafi vows to fight as loyalists strike oil hub". Khaleej Times. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g Barnard, Anne (12 September 2011). "In Flash of Resilience, Qaddafi Loyalists Attack Oil Refinery". The New York Times. Tripoli. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Mon, 12 Sep 2011, 14:22 GMT+3 - Libya". Al Jazeera. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
