A Maltese-flagged oil tanker loaded with thousands of barrels of crude oil left Tuesday Libya's Ras Lanouf port, the first shipment since 2014.

Seadelta oil tanker left Ras Lanouf port to Italy with 776,000 barrels of oil, officials say.

Ras Lanuf, along with three other ports in the oil crescent region, was seized last week by Dignity Operation militia groups.

The Maltese oil tanker was expected to load oil last Sunday, but renewed clashes between Dignity Operation militias and Ibrahim Jodran's so-called Petroleum Facilities forced the tanker to turn back out to sea for safety.

On September 11, Dignity Operation militias, backed by Sudanese and Chadian rebels, launched a surprise attack on Brega, Zuwetina, Sidra and Ras Lanouf and forced Ibrahim Jodran armed group out of the oil terminals.  

A week later, Jodran launched a counter attack and recaptured Sidra and Ras Lanouf before the Egyptian warplanes intervened and bombed his group, forcing them to retreat to Nofaliya town to the west of Sirte.

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