Libyan military says it bombed ‘suspicious’ Greek tanker

Libyan militants (Dona Bozzi / Shutterstock)

CAIRO — A military spokesman for Libya’s internationally recognized government says its fighter jets bombed a Greek-owned tanker ship because it had no prior clearance to enter an eastern port and acted “suspicious.”

Spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari said the jets struck the tanker twice Monday in Darna before his government was informed that it was commissioned by the local power station.

Greek officials said the bombing killed two crew members and wounded two onboard the Liberian-flagged Araevo.

Al-Mesmari told The Associated Press: “We regret the loss of lives.”

Darna is a base for Islamic extremists who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Libya, torn between rival governments, has been beset by militia violence since its 2011 civil war and the death of dictator Moammar Gadhafi.