Libyan warlord’s aircraft intercepts civilian plane, forces it to land for inspection

A warplane from Khalifa Haftar’s east Libyan military forces intercepted a civilian plane on Sunday as part of its push to control the oil-rich south of the country.

The general command of Haftar’s self-styled army said in a statement that it scrambled a jet after a plane took off from the El Feel oilfield without permission, and forced it to land near Sabha, the largest town in south Libya.

The statement added that the plane was allowed to continue to Tripoli after inspection.

The plane was carrying sick and injured people as well as El Feel staffers from the field to Tripoli. It was the same plane that was nearly targeted by airstrikes from Haftar’s forces on Saturday.