Libyan Oil Fields Shut, Cutting Country's Output by More than Half

A general view of the Zueitina oil terminal is seen in Zueitina, west of Benghazi April 7, 2014. (Reuters)
A general view of the Zueitina oil terminal is seen in Zueitina, west of Benghazi April 7, 2014. (Reuters)
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Libyan Oil Fields Shut, Cutting Country's Output by More than Half

A general view of the Zueitina oil terminal is seen in Zueitina, west of Benghazi April 7, 2014. (Reuters)
A general view of the Zueitina oil terminal is seen in Zueitina, west of Benghazi April 7, 2014. (Reuters)

Eastern Libya ports controlled by Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Khalifa Haftar, shut down oil exports, slashing national crude output by more than half and ramping up tensions ahead of a summit in Germany to discuss the country’s conflict.

The dramatic move came as Germany and the United Nations try to persuade Haftar at the Berlin summit on Sunday to halt his nine-month campaign to take Tripoli, seat of the Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Fayez al-Sarraj.

Tribesmen in areas controlled by the LNA on Friday stormed the eastern Zueitina oil export port and announced the closure of all terminals under LNA control, reported Reuters.

LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari later told reporters that the “Libyan people had closed the oil ports.”

Analysts said the closure of oil ports would not have been possible without the blessing of the LNA leadership. A source in the National Oil Company (NOC) said the LNA and an eastern oil protection force had ordered the closure of the ports. The oil protection force confirmed exports had been stopped.

Libya’s oil production was an estimated 1.3 million barrels a day before the closures.

The tribesmen allied with Haftar earlier accused the Tripoli government of using oil revenues to pay foreign fighters - a reference to Turkey’s decision to send soldiers and fighters from Syria’s war to western Libya to help the GNA fend off the LNA campaign.

The head of the eastern Zouaya tribe told AFP that blocking exports would "dry up the sources of funding for terrorism via oil revenues".

The tribes also called for the "immediate" closure of the Mellitah, Brega and Misrata pipelines.

NOC chairman Moustafa Sanalla said the oil and gas sector is "vital" for the Libyan economy, as it is the "single source of income for the Libyan people".

"The oil and the oil facilities belong to the Libyan people. They are not cards to be played to solve political matters," he added.

Libya’s oil sector, which brings in almost all of the state's revenues, has frequently been the target of attacks.

Sanalla said the consequences of exports and production being shut down for an extended period could be devastating.

"We face collapse of the exchange rate, a huge and unsustainable increase in the national deficit, the departure of foreign contractors, and the loss of future production, which may take years to restore," he said.

The ports closure mark a setback for the Berlin conference on Sunday where Haftar and Sarraj are expected. The one-day summit is the latest in a series of failed conferences and negotiations to stabilize Libya.



Lebanese President Acknowledges ‘Slow Progress’ in Talks with Hezbollah on Disarmament

Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)
Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)
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Lebanese President Acknowledges ‘Slow Progress’ in Talks with Hezbollah on Disarmament

Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)
Aoun receives the key to the area of Sin al-Fil, where he lived before his election. (Lebanese Presidency)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun acknowledged on Friday that negotiations with Hezbollah over its weapons are ongoing, though progressing slowly.

Speaking amid heightened tensions along the southern border with Israel, Aoun emphasized that dialogue is being conducted directly with Hezbollah, not through a formal security committee, and expressed cautious optimism over a gradual breakthrough.

“There is some responsiveness to the ideas we’re discussing, even if things are moving at a slow pace,” said Aoun, stressing that neither party desires war, which would carry severe consequences for all sides.

His remarks come as Hezbollah issued its first public response to the recent visit by US envoy Tom Barrack, rejecting the American proposal focused on centralizing arms under the Lebanese state.

Hezbollah insisted it is only concerned with implementing UN Resolution 1701, which calls for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory and a cessation of hostilities.

Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s demand for Israel to adhere to the ceasefire agreement and withdraw from the remaining five occupied hills in the south, noting that full army deployment remains hindered in areas still under Israeli control.

During his visit to Beirut this week, Barrack pushed for a “monopoly of arms” by the Lebanese state, declaring that the US will only support Lebanon if its government commits to ensuring that only official forces carry weapons.

In a statement, he reinforced that Hezbollah, in its entirety, is viewed by Washington as a foreign terrorist organization, with no distinction between its political and military wings.

He added that the responsibility now lies with Lebanon’s political leadership and army to seize this opportunity and build a future free of Hezbollah’s grip.

Hezbollah MP Ihab Hamadeh dismissed the American initiative, affirming that the group is aligned with the stance of parliament and ally Speaker Nabih Berri and will only engage within the framework of Resolution 1701.

He acknowledged a general agreement on the principle of state monopoly over arms, but argued that this must be accompanied by a comprehensive national defense strategy, especially in light of ongoing Israeli attacks.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have intensified, targeting South Lebanon throughout the week. On Friday, an Israeli drone strike killed a Hezbollah member in Bint Jbeil, while other raids reportedly hit weapons depots and rocket launch sites. Tensions escalated further when an Israeli soldier shot a Lebanese civilian near the border.

In response to repeated attacks, residents of the border town Aita al-Shaab issued a strongly worded statement condemning the government’s inaction and warning that they may resort to self-defense.

“Security is not a luxury; it is our right,” the statement read.