The spokesperson for Libyan army, Ahmed al-Masmari, announced that clashes are still taking place, in Ras Lanuf port, between the Libyan national army and Al Qaeda's militants, stressing its near completion in the coming hours.

In a press conference held, on Saturday evening, Masmari did not rule out the presence of foreign support to the armed groups, which has been fighting in the oil crescent region. Al-Masmari has said that the army began to restore control of the outskirts of Ras Lanuf from armed elements belonging to al-Qaeda.

"Al-Qaeda and others extremist groups found in Libya starting point for its operations towards the north and west of the African countries, exploiting the political and security vacuum in the region," al-Masmari stated.

In the context of military operations, security sources reported that the Libyan air force carried out intensive raids on gatherings of al-Qaeda militants in Sidra town, western of Ras Lanuf.