The National Oil Corporation (NOC) has cleared Tripoli Port of fuel tankers and urgently evacuated the area, calling a halt to all unloading operations.

The NOC took this action due to shelling which landed meters away from a tanker that was carrying explosive liquid petroleum gas (LPG) as it was being off loaded.

The head of the corporation, Mustafa Sanalla, strongly condemned the targeting of the port and called on the international community to intervene urgently in order to permit the NOC to continue in its management of fuel delivery without difficulty.

Sanalla stressed that the NOC would be forced to seek alternative methods to supply Tripoli and the outskirts with fuel after this latest attack on the port.

He added that this attack could have led to a huge catastrophe to humanitarian and environmental matters leading to disruption of hospitals, schools, power plants and indeed other vital services throughout the city.