TRIPOLI

Forces loyal to the UN-recognized government have captured El-Feel oilfield in southwestern Libya, according to a military statement. 

The statement by the military council of the southern city of Sabha said oil facilities guards took control of the field from forces of East Libya-based commander Khalifa Haftar. 

It, however, did not give any information about casualties. 

Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC), for its part, called on the warring sides to stop military operations near El-Feel oilfield and to prioritize safety of workers at the facility. 

"Any escalation would lead to the evacuation of the oilfield and suspension of production," NOC head Mostafa Sanalla said in a statement. 

El-Feel oilfield produces 70,000 barrels per day. 

Meanwhile, Haftar's forces raised the security alert in El-Sharara, Libya's largest oilfield, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter. 

El-Sharara oilfield produces more than 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day, forming roughly one third of the oil-rich country's production. 

Libya holds Africa’s largest crude reserves, but eight years of conflict and violence in the country since the 2011 ouster of ruler Muammar Gaddafi have hobbled production and exports. 

* Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara