(Ecofin Agency) - Libya on Tuesday witnessed another attack by the Islamic State militants (IS) on its 340,000 bpd crude oil export terminal, following a clash on Monday with security forces, which resulted to an explosion at the facility.

According to a spokesman for the Petroleum Facilities Guard, Ali Hassi, and a report from the National Oil Corporation, the group resumed its shooting on Tuesday, close to the oil port of Es Sider aiming an oil storage tank. The spokesman added that the militants were situated 30-40 km (19-25 miles) from the port which they hit the previous day.

Indeed, the militants on Monday discharged two car bombs at the Es Sider oil terminal leaving seven guards dead and 25 others wounded. They also took control of the coastal town of Bin Jawad, 30km west of Sidra, thereby increasing its foothold in Libya and indicating another obstacle for the country's oil sector.

Although IS has been present in Libya since late 2013, it is only now making a move to seize territories. It has performed a number of attacks over the past few weeks with the aim of moving towards Libya’s oil terminals including al-Sidra and Ras Lanouf.

UN experts had in December 2015 revealed that there are about 3,000 IS militants in Libya. They noted that the militants poses a great threat in Libya as it sees the country as the best place to develop its militancy, Albawaba News reports.