Islamic State ”moving to access Libya oil” – France

The Islamic State group is extending its territory inside Libya, aiming to gain access to the country’s oil wells, France’s defence minister says. The group has started to move inland from its stronghold in the coastal town of Sirte, Jean-Yves Le Drian told France’s RTL radio. Libya’s rival governments are due to sign a UN-backed […]

The Islamic State group is extending its territory inside Libya, aiming to gain access to the country’s oil wells, France’s defence minister says.
The group has started to move inland from its stronghold in the coastal town of Sirte, Jean-Yves Le Drian told France’s RTL radio.
Libya’s rival governments are due to sign a UN-backed agreement on Wednesday to form a unity government.
Libya has descended into chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
“They are in Sirte, their territory extends 250 kilometres [155 miles] along the coast, but they are starting to penetrate the interior and to be tempted by access to oil wells and reserves,” Mr Le Drian told RTL radio, AFP news agency reports.
Libya has 48 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves, the largest in Africa and ninth biggest in the world.