Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — The Libyan Army faces an imminent war with rebel militias.

Powerful rebel militias have attacked a Libyan Army base in an attempt to foil a planned offensive by the Tripoli government.

The rebels used anti-aircraft artillery and rocket-propelled grenades in the assault on the Army base in Ajdabiya.

“The military is warning residents not to approach the battlefield,” the military said.

The rebel attack came amid preparations by the military to capture oil export ports around Sider. In mid-March, the rebels defied government warnings and loaded 234,000 barrels of crude oil on a North Korean oil tanker. The tanker broke through a Libyan Navy blockade but was intercepted by the U.S. Navy near Cyprus.

“Three Libyan vessels set sail early this morning to a point in the sea, jointly specified with the U.S. Navy and boarded the oil tanker,” Libyan Navy spokesman Ayoub Qassim said on March 22.

The rebel attack has been led by Ibrahim Jathran, whose militia
controlled three oil ports. Jathran has ignored a March 26 deadline to
withdraw from the ports.

Western diplomatic sources said this would mark the biggest test of the
post-Gadhafi military in Libya. They said the military has sought to
accelerate training with NATO states in an attempt to restore control over
much of the North African state.

  Ajdabiya, Ayoub Qassim, Libyan Army prepares for war with militias over control of oil ports, Sider