Wave of Attacks on Energy Infrastructure
Firefighters in western Libya have extinguished a series of massive blazes following a coordinated wave of drone strikes targeting critical oil and power infrastructure in the coastal town of Zawiya. The attacks, which began on Monday and continued through Tuesday, hit Libya’s largest oil refinery, a nearby export terminal, and the town’s power plant, according to the state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC).
The first strike on Monday ignited a major fire in a gasoline-storage tank, which held approximately 4.5 million liters of fuel. The impact caused the tank to collapse, prompting the NOC to declare a state of maximum emergency at the facility. While first responders from the Civil Defense were able to contain the flames by late Tuesday evening, the incident underscores the extreme fragility of Libya’s energy sector, which remains a primary target in the country’s ongoing power struggles.
Security Crisis and Militia Tensions
The strikes in Zawiya occur against a backdrop of escalating tensions between the Tripoli-based government of Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah and local militia leader Mohamed Bahroun, who exerts significant control over the city. Analysts, including Jalel Harchaoui of the Royal United Services Institute, suggest that as Bahroun’s forces face increased pressure from the central government, they may be resorting to desperate measures to maintain leverage.
The security situation is further complicated by the broader national divide. Simultaneously with the Zawiya attacks, a car bomb in the eastern city of Benghazi killed Maj. Gen. Fawzy al-Mansouri, the director of military intelligence for the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Khalifa Hifter. The LNA is aligned with the rival eastern administration, highlighting how violence is simultaneously destabilizing both halves of the fractured nation.
Diplomatic Stakes
The dual incidents have drawn renewed international attention to Libya’s instability. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is scheduled to visit both Tripoli and Benghazi this week. His mission is expected to focus on de-escalating tensions between the competing administrations and addressing the security threats posed to the country’s essential economic infrastructure.