Forces of the Libyan government on Saturday responded to a surprise attack by militants of Libya Dawn aimed to seize the oil-rich region, according to military officials.

"A surprise attack was launched on Saturday by militants of Libya Dawn after they progressed towards oil crescent region." said General Saqr Al-Jroshi, air force commander of the forces of major general Khalifa Haftar.

"The Libyan air force jets and helicopters raided these troops advancing towards the oil port of Al-Sidra across the coastal road and through other sub-road, as well as through a desert road toward the town Tagreft." Saqr said.

He added that the air force accurately and successfully carried out the operation, causing the militants large material and human losses.

A field commander of Libya Dawn forces, stationed near Al-Wadi Al-Ahmar, 500 km east of the capital Tripoli, said the militias launched a surprise attack to liberate the oil crescent region from the grip of the "defense force of Cyrenaica."

Ibrahim Jathran, head of oil installations Guard service of oil crescent region, said that "the clashes are still going on to deal with some pockets of resistance of these forces that are trying to progress towards the region."

Jathran formed a military force called "Defense Force of Cyrenaica," and deployed his troops outside the oil crescent region.

Libya has been witnessing a frayed political process after the 2011 turmoil which toppled its leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The country is now juggling two rival parliaments and governments. Now Jathran's forces are known to be loyal to Libya's elected government based in the eastern city of Tobruk, while Libya Dawn supports the Islamist government in Tripoli.