The National Oil Corporation in Tripoli has warned that incoming tankers at Libya’s ports may be under threat following an incident on Sunday (4 January) when a Greek-operated oil tanker, chartered by Libya’s national oil company, was bombed by Libyan air force jets, which resulted in the death of two crew members.

A spokesman for the Libyan military told the BBC that the ship’s movements at the port of Derna had aroused suspicion on the day of the incident.

Greece has condemned the attack as ‘unprovoked and cowardly’ while military officials allied with Libya’s internationally recognised government reportedly told Reuters the vessel had been warned not to enter port and claimed it had been transporting Islamist militants to the city of Derna.

The National Oil Corporation said the tanker had picked up 13 000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil in Brega, a port south of Libya’s second city, Benghazi, which it was due to deliver to a power plant and water purification facility in Derna, which has been controlled by Islamist militants for the past two years.

Despite the tanker receiving damage, none of the heavy oil leaked out, the Athens-based operator, Aegean Shipping Enterprises Co, said.