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| U.S. Navy SEALs board North Korea-flagged tanker for return to Libya | U.S. Navy SEALs board North Korea-flagged tanker for return to Libya |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A team of Navy SEALs boarded a North Korean-flagged oil tanker Sunday night in the Mediterranean in an apparent bid to prevent the delivery of Libyan crude worth several millions of dollars that members of a militia had been attempting to sell, according to U.S. and Libyan officials. | A team of Navy SEALs boarded a North Korean-flagged oil tanker Sunday night in the Mediterranean in an apparent bid to prevent the delivery of Libyan crude worth several millions of dollars that members of a militia had been attempting to sell, according to U.S. and Libyan officials. |
| In a daring operation approved by President Obama, the SEALs commandeered the commercial tanker Morning Glory shortly after 10 p.m. and were en route overnight to a Libyan port, Rear Adm. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement. No one was hurt during the operation, he said. | In a daring operation approved by President Obama, the SEALs commandeered the commercial tanker Morning Glory shortly after 10 p.m. and were en route overnight to a Libyan port, Rear Adm. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement. No one was hurt during the operation, he said. |
| Libya’s fledgling government had strongly opposed the sale of oil by a militia in eastern Libya and at one point threatened to bomb the vessel. When it set sail last week, outraged lawmakers ousted Prime Minister Ali Zeidan through a no-confidence vote and installed the country’s defense minister as interim leader. Zeidan had become deeply unpopular for failing to rein in the authority of militias that emerged during Libya’s 2011 civil war. | Libya’s fledgling government had strongly opposed the sale of oil by a militia in eastern Libya and at one point threatened to bomb the vessel. When it set sail last week, outraged lawmakers ousted Prime Minister Ali Zeidan through a no-confidence vote and installed the country’s defense minister as interim leader. Zeidan had become deeply unpopular for failing to rein in the authority of militias that emerged during Libya’s 2011 civil war. |
| In a statement issued Monday, the Libyan government said that its initial efforts to seize control of the ship had failed as a result of “bad weather and inadequate resources.” | In a statement issued Monday, the Libyan government said that its initial efforts to seize control of the ship had failed as a result of “bad weather and inadequate resources.” |
| The dispute over the ship underscored the weakness of the Libyan state and the extent to which the Obama administration is willing to use military force to support an oil-rich state still reeling from the aftermath of its civil war. | The dispute over the ship underscored the weakness of the Libyan state and the extent to which the Obama administration is willing to use military force to support an oil-rich state still reeling from the aftermath of its civil war. |
| “The Libyan Interim Government confirms that the sale of Libyan oil is the main source of national income and any illegal removal will not be tolerated,” the Libyan government said in a statement. The statement credited the United States and Cyprus for their help in stopping the shipment. | “The Libyan Interim Government confirms that the sale of Libyan oil is the main source of national income and any illegal removal will not be tolerated,” the Libyan government said in a statement. The statement credited the United States and Cyprus for their help in stopping the shipment. |
| The Libyan statement said the ship’s crew was “safe and well” and would be “dealt with according to international and national law.” | The Libyan statement said the ship’s crew was “safe and well” and would be “dealt with according to international and national law.” |
| The Pentagon’s statement said the team of SEALs used the USS Roosevelt as a staging platform for the mission. | The Pentagon’s statement said the team of SEALs used the USS Roosevelt as a staging platform for the mission. |
| In the eastern city of Benghazi, a prominent businessman said the overnight raid sparked outrage among Libyans who have sought greater autonomy from the state and whose sense of disenfranchisement dates back to the era of rule by Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi. | In the eastern city of Benghazi, a prominent businessman said the overnight raid sparked outrage among Libyans who have sought greater autonomy from the state and whose sense of disenfranchisement dates back to the era of rule by Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi. |
| “The people are saying that the United States betrayed us and we thought it was our partner,” said Fathallah Bin Ali, an associate of Ibrahim Jathran, leader of a federalist militia that was attempting to sell the oil. | “The people are saying that the United States betrayed us and we thought it was our partner,” said Fathallah Bin Ali, an associate of Ibrahim Jathran, leader of a federalist militia that was attempting to sell the oil. |
| Jathran and his allies accuse the post-revolutionary government of neglecting the east, where the bulk of the country’s oil and gas wealth is located. His militia seized key eastern oil terminals last summer in an effort to force Tripoli to give eastern Libyans greater control over oil sales, which are handled by a state-run company and ministry based in Tripoli. | Jathran and his allies accuse the post-revolutionary government of neglecting the east, where the bulk of the country’s oil and gas wealth is located. His militia seized key eastern oil terminals last summer in an effort to force Tripoli to give eastern Libyans greater control over oil sales, which are handled by a state-run company and ministry based in Tripoli. |
| The U.S. operation could alienate an eastern Libyan faction that has remained relatively friendly to the United States in an atmosphere of growing Islamist extremism. Bin Ali, a Benghazi resident who was a friend of the late U.S. ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, said the seizure of the tanker left some Libyans feeling angry. | The U.S. operation could alienate an eastern Libyan faction that has remained relatively friendly to the United States in an atmosphere of growing Islamist extremism. Bin Ali, a Benghazi resident who was a friend of the late U.S. ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, said the seizure of the tanker left some Libyans feeling angry. |
| The operation showed that the United States is first and foremost “a capitalist country” that had abandoned its friends. “They believe that crude is more sacred than blood,” he added. | The operation showed that the United States is first and foremost “a capitalist country” that had abandoned its friends. “They believe that crude is more sacred than blood,” he added. |
| A series of explosions struck Benghazi throughout the day Monday, further underscoring the lawlessness in Libya’s eastern region. The first blast, caused by a powerful car bomb, killed at least eight people outside a graduation ceremony for new soldiers, Reuters reported. At least two other explosions in other parts of the city wounded more than a dozen more, residents said. | |
| The United States is among the nations that impose sanctions on North Korea, a nuclear-armed state that routinely threatens to attack neighboring South Korea and Western nations. The oil tanker’s flag led to speculation that the oil was destined to Pyongyang, although North Korea denied that it was behind the purchase. | |
| The United States protested Sunday following reports that Pyongyang had test-fired 25 short-range missiles. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki called on North Korea to “refrain from provocative actions that aggravate tensions.” | The United States protested Sunday following reports that Pyongyang had test-fired 25 short-range missiles. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki called on North Korea to “refrain from provocative actions that aggravate tensions.” |
| Abigail Hauslohner reported from Beirut. | Abigail Hauslohner reported from Beirut. |