Navy SEALs Seize Oil Tanker from Libyan Rebels
March 18th, 2014Via: USA Today:
A U.S. Navy SEAL raid to seize control of an oil tanker that had been commandeered by Libyan rebels reflects a broad U.S. policy to try and help bolster the country’s weak central government, which has struggled since the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
No shots were fired during the operation, which involved a large number of elite naval commandos, U.S. European Command said.
The tanker is steaming back to Libya with a team of U.S. sailors aboard. U.S. officials have not decided what to do with the armed Libyans who had seized control of the ship.
The militants are believed to be linked to one of the militias that operate in the country and rival the central government.
The tanker had earlier evaded efforts by Libyan security forces to prevent it from leaving a Libyan port. Libyan and Cypriot authorities had sought U.S. help in detaining the vessel.
