Warplanes belonging to Libya's internationally recognized government bombed a gasoil tanker at a port controlled by the North African nation's rival Islamist leaders, the regional coast guard commander said.
The Anwaar Afriqya, a tanker carrying 30,000 metric tons of gasoil from Motor Oil Hellas's refinery in Greece, was attacked while anchored off Sirte in central Libya, Rida Issa, the coast guard chief, said by phone. The airstrike caused a fire on the tanker that was later extinguished, the vessel's second-in-command, Fakhri Mohammed, said.
"We succeeded in avoiding an environmental catastrophe," Mohammed said by phone Monday.