Petroleum Facilities Guard

Petroleum Facilities Guard
حرس المنشآت النفطية
Participant in Second Libyan Civil War
Active 11 November 2013[1] – Present
Ideology Federalism[2]
Leader

Ibrahim Jadhran (Until February 2017)

Idris Bukhamada (February 2017 onwards)
Spokesman Ali al-Hassi[3]
Area of operations Libya
Size 27'000[4][5] - 35'000[6]
Allies

Benghazi Defense Brigades[7]

Libya Government of National Accord[8]
Opponents

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ISIL [9]

Libya Libyan National Army
Battles and wars

Battle of Sirte (2016)

Gulf of Sidra Offensive (2017)

The Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) (Arabic: حرس المنشآت النفطية) is a Libyan Oil Company and Militia led by Idris Bukhamada. It was established on 11 November 2013[10], and subsequently took control of the main oil export terminals in eastern Libya[11] and starting in March 2014 attempted to sell oil[12]. After controlling the ports for years and costing Libya over 60 billion dollars of oil revenues[13], the Libyan National Army launched Operation Surprise Lightening on 10 September 2016 in a bid to take the PFG-controlled Brega, Zuwetina, Sidra and Ras Lanouf oil terminals[14]. The next day, Local activists reported that Libyan National Army’s 166th Battalion managed to liberate the town of Ajdabiya, Sadra, and Ras Lanouf after a fierce battle with the Hadran forces in western Benghazi.[15] By the 12th of September, The LNA had captured the headquarters of the Zueitina oil terminal, leaving the PFG with hardly any territory under its control.[16] On the 14th, The LNA seized Brega, Prompting LNA Colonel Muftah al-Muqarief to declare victory, Being quoted as saying "The entire oil crescent region is now under our control"[17]

Later in September, The PFG launched an abortive attempt to retake the Gulf of Sidra, Before being driven back with 5 PFG members killed and several vehicles destroyed.[18].

On 6-7 December 2016, The PFG, Allied with the Benghazi Defense Brigades launched another attempt to retake the Gulf of Sidra, Briefly seizing Nofaliya and Bin Jawad before being driven back by an LNA counterattack and retreating toward Harawa. The LNA followed up their victory with a retaliation raid in the vicinity of Al Jufrah air base, Killing field commander Umar Al Mukhtar and wounding 13, as well as advancing on Gate 50 east of Sirte with the 21st and 101st Infantry Battalions, and seizing the Brak Al Shati air base and Tamanhint air base in Sabha region with the 12th Brigade led by Mohammed Ben Nayel[19].

In February 2017, Ibrahim Jadhran was sacked by the presidency council as leader of the PFG, And Idris Bukhamada was appointed as the new leader[20].

References

  1. ↑ By CLIFFORD KRAUSSNOV. 11, 2013 (2013-11-11). "In Challenge, Former Rebels in Libya Form Own Oil Company - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  2. ↑ Matthew M. Reed (2014-02-03). "Federalism and Libya's Oil – Foreign Policy". Foreignpolicy.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  3. ↑ 11 Sep 2016 13:38 GMT (2016-09-11). "Forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar attack ports in Libya | News". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  4. ↑ "Libyan Petroleum Guards Accused of Siphoning Oil | Egypt Oil & Gas". Egyptoil-gas.com. 2016-01-27. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  5. ↑ 1:53pm (2016-01-27). "ISIS in Libya: Petroleum Facilities Guard accused of handing over oil". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  6. ↑ "{title}". Archived from the original on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  7. ↑ "A quick guide to Libya's main players | European Council on Foreign Relations". Ecfr.eu. 2016-03-30. Archived from the original on 2018-08-18. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  8. ↑ "Resurgence of Islamist Groups linked to Libyan National Army's fighting in Derna | MAX BLOG". Max-security.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  9. ↑ "{title}". Archived from the original on 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  10. ↑ Krauss, Clifford. "In Challenge, Former Rebels in Libya Form Own Oil Company". Archived from the original on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  11. ↑ "A quick guide to Libya's main players | European Council on Foreign Relations". www.ecfr.eu. Archived from the original on 2018-08-18. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  12. ↑ Gas, Egypt Oil & (2016-01-27). "Libyan Petroleum Guards Accused of Siphoning Oil". Egypt Oil & Gas. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  13. ↑ Kim Sengupta Diplomatic editor (2016-01-25). "The rogue private army that handed an oil field to Isis on a plate". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  14. ↑ "Dignity Operation attacks oil terminals in east Libya | The Libya Observer". www.libyaobserver.ly. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  15. ↑ "Libyan National Army liberates several sites near the coast". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2016-09-11. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  16. ↑ Wintour, Patrick (2016-09-12). "Seizure of Libyan oil terminals prompts call for military action". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  17. ↑ "Khalifa Haftar forces seize oil port Brega in Libya". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  18. ↑ "Jadhran's PFG fail to retake Sidra and Ras Lanuf export terminals". www.libyaherald.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  19. ↑ "When Militants Attacked Libya's Oil Region, Regime Aircraft Struck Back Hard". Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  20. ↑ "PC sends Petroleum Facilities Guards to take over Sidra and Ras Lanuf". www.libyaherald.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
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