Drone attack hits Libya's largest oil refinery
Fires broke out at the Zawiya oil complex after explosives-laden drones struck the site. Hours later, fresh violence in Benghazi highlighted Libya's persistent security challenges.
On Monday, an unidentified actor launched a drone attack on Libya's largest oil refinery, causing fires at a fuel storage facility. The Zawiya oil complex, west of Tripoli, houses the country's largest refinery and has witnessed repeated clashes since the fall of former leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The attack targeted the Zawiya Oil Refining Company, resulting in a tank containing about 4.5 million liters of gasoline collapsing after the fire.
Despite the initial damage, the fires were brought under control faster than anticipated, with limited overall impact on operations. Libya's internationally recognized prime minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, vowed that targeting civilian infrastructure would not go unanswered. Two additional drones also targeted the Zawiya power plant, causing damage to the fire-fighting system but no significant harm.
Libya remains divided, with Dbeibah's UN-recognized government in Tripoli and the Libyan National Army (LNA) controlling the east and southern regions. The LNA announced the killing of its head of military intelligence, Fawzi al-Mansouri, in a car bombing in Benghazi. Officials have not identified the perpetrators, but Khaled Haftar, a son of the LNA leader, stated that an investigation was underway, indicating a possible terrorist motive.
The ongoing split between the rival administrations has hindered Libya's oil production progress and deterred foreign investors, leading to a significant drop in oil exports in 2024. Despite recent production increases, Libya struggles to reach pre-2011 production levels of 1.6 million barrels per day.
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