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Petroleum Facilities Guard

The Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG; Arabic: حرس المنشآت النفطية) is a Libyan oil company and militia led by Idris Bukhamada. Established in October 2012,[4] it took control of the main oil export terminals in eastern Libya in the summer of 2013[12] and starting in March 2014 attempted to sell oil.[13] In 2014, Ibrahim Jadhran ousted Idris Bukhamada, and became the new leader of the PFG.[2] Despite initially allying himself with Khalifa Haftar,[14] this alliance would later sour and lead to Jadhran accusing the LNA of trying to assassinate him in September 2015.[15][14]

Petroleum Facilities Guard
حرس المنشآت النفطية
LeaderIdris Bukhamada (August 2013[1] – 2014[2])

Ibrahim Jadhran (2014 – February 2017)

Idris Bukhamada (February 2017 – Present)
SpokesmanAli al-Hassi[3]
Dates of operationOctober 2012[4] – Present
HeadquartersBrega[5]
Active regionsLibya
IdeologyFederalism[6]
Size17,000 – 35,000 [7]
Allies
Opponents
Battles and wars
Websitehttp://www.pfglibya.org/

During the Battle of Sirte (2016), the PFG joined the Government of National Accord-led offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, taking control of Bin Jawad and Nawfiliyah on 27 May.[16]

After controlling the ports for years and costing Libya over 60 billion dollars of oil revenues,[17] the Libyan National Army launched Operation Surprise Lightning on 10 September 2016 in a bid to take the PFG-controlled Brega, Zuwetina, Sidra and Ras Lanouf oil terminals.[18] The next day, local activists reported that Libyan National Army’s 166th Battalion managed to capture the town of Ajdabiya, Sadra, and Ras Lanouf after a fierce battle with the PFG forces in western Benghazi.[19] 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.[20] 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".[21]

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.[22]

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.[23]

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.[2]

By July 2019, the PFG, now under the command of Naji al-Maghrabi, had once again aligned itself with the LNA.[24]

References

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  1. ^ Solutions, EIU Digital (22 August 2013). "Libya oil: Quick View – NOC invokes force majeure". Eiu.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-23. the recently appointed head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard, Edris Abokhamada, told Reuters that he has asked the Ministry of Defence for reinforcements.
  2. ^ a b c "PC sends Petroleum Facilities Guards to take over Sidra and Ras Lanuf". Libyaherald.com. 7 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  3. ^ "Forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar attack ports in Libya". Aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b Grawert, Elke; Abul-Magd, Zeinab (2016-04-29). Businessmen in Arms: How the Military and Other Armed Groups Profit in the MENA Region. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442254565. Archived from the original on 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  5. ^ Libyan Army launches operation to secure strategic oil fields Al-Masdar News, June 26, 2020
  6. ^ Reed, Matthew M. (3 February 2014). "Federalism and Libya's Oil". Foreignpolicy.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  7. ^
    17'000:
    Coker, Margaret (2013-10-03). "Ex-Rebel, With Militia, Lays Claim to Libyan Oil Patch". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2018-10-23. 18'000:
    "Oil industry left with legacy of violence in Libya after Gaddafi". Ft.com. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018. 20'000:
    Guard, Petroleum Facilities. "Libya's Petroleum Facilities Guard Reopens Four Ports in Order to Resume Oil Exports". Prnewswire.com (Press release). Archived from the original on 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2018-10-23. 27'000:
    Gas, Egypt Oil & (27 January 2016). "Libyan Petroleum Guards Accused of Siphoning Oil". Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
    "Rogue army boosting ISIS". Archived from the original on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 18 October 2018. 35'000:
    "Toward a More Perfect Union: The Struggle for Security in Libya – Center for American Progress". 8 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  8. ^ "A quick guide to Libya's main players – European Council on Foreign Relations". Ecfr.eu. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2018-08-18. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Resurgence of Islamist Groups linked to Libyan National Army's fighting in Derna – MAX BLOG". 21 June 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Militiaman who became Libya's oil kingpin". POLITICO. 2016-08-25. Archived from the original on 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2018-10-18. Now Jadhran denounces all sides. He accused the GNC of being dominated by Islamic extremists.
  11. ^ "Mapping Libya's factions" (PDF). Ecfr.eu. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Conflict returns to Libya's petroleum crescent - Region - World - Ahram Online". English.ahram.org.eg. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ a b Toaldo, Mattia (2016). "A Quick Guide to Libya's main players" (PDF). European Council of Foreign Relations. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-02-05. Retrieved 2018-10-18. He (Ibrahim Jadhran) has alternately allied himself with both the HoR and its opponents in western Libya. While Jathran initially claimed to be supportive of Haftar's Dignity campaign, his relationship with Haftar has since soured to the extent he has accused Haftar's forces of trying to assassinate him.
  15. ^ "Militiaman Jodran deplores Haftar's attempt to assassinate him | The Libya Observer". Libyaobserver.ly. Archived from the original on 2018-09-14. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  16. ^ al-Warfalli, Ayman (30 May 2016). "Libyan security forces pushing Islamic State back from vicinity of..." Reuters. Archived from the original on 2018-06-28. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  17. ^ "Oil guards accused of siphoning off Libya's supplies". Independent.co.uk. 26 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  18. ^ "Dignity Operation attacks oil terminals in east Libya | The Libya Observer". Libyaobserver.ly. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ "Khalifa Haftar forces seize oil port Brega in Libya". Aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  22. ^ "Jadhran's PFG fail to retake Sidra and Ras Lanuf export terminals". Libyaherald.com. 18 September 2016. Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  23. ^ "When Militants Attacked Libya's Oil Region, Regime Aircraft Struck Back Hard". Archived from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  24. ^ "10 July – 16 July: ISIS release eulogy for its media officer in Libya". Eye on ISIS in Libya. 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
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