Clashes in Zawiya, 47 kilometers west of Tripoli, trapped residents in their homes and caused fires at an oil refinery. Fighting broke out between gunmen loyal to the Shurafaa ethnic group and forces led by warlord Mohamed Kushlaf, local media reported. Kushlaf, sanctioned by the U.N. in 2018 for alleged human trafficking, played a central role in the violence.
The cause of the clashes remains unclear, but such conflicts are frequent in western Libya, dominated by militias allied with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s government. The fighting disrupted life in Zawiya, closing a major coastal road and suspending classes across the city.
Civilians Trapped and Oil Facilities Damaged
Ahmed Abu Hussein, a Zawiya resident, described widespread panic as bullets struck houses and buildings in densely populated areas. Families remained trapped as violence spread across the city.
The National Oil Corporation reported “severe damage” to storage tanks at the Zawiya oil refinery. Bullets caused fires and gas leaks, but firefighters managed to contain the damage. The company declared force majeure, citing extraordinary circumstances, and posted footage of the refinery ablaze.
Libya remains divided between Dbeibah’s western government and Prime Minister Ossama Hammad’s eastern administration, backed by Khalifa Hifter’s forces. This latest violence underscores ongoing instability in the oil-rich nation.