Violent clashes erupted east of Libya's coastal city of Sirte early Monday between the Libyan army and Islamic State militants, according to local security sources.

Some witnesses reported heavy gunfire after a car bombing killed and wounded several soldiers near As Sidr area. Some said the IS militants were heading toward the oil port in the town but met resistance.

Ali al-Hasi, spokesman of the local militia group Petroleum Facility Guards (PFG), said the oil port is still under control by its fighters.

As Sidr and its adjacent Ras Lanuf, Libya's two large oil ports, have both been closed for over a year due to clashes between PFG and militants attempting to take over the ports.

Since last year, IS militants have occupied Sirte, some 450 km east of the capital Tripoli, as its base for further expansion.

The terror group have long been eyeing for the two oil ports, attempting to seize them as their source of income. Endit

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