Libyan emergency services are battling a massive blaze at the Zawiya refinery after a drone strike on Monday evening.
The National Oil Corporation (NOC) confirmed the strike targeted a tank holding around 4.5 million litres of fuel, setting the flame to a collapse of the tank and a fire that threatened the entire plant. The refinery is Libya’s largest operational facility, producing about 120,000 barrels per day.
Fire crews worked throughout the night to stem the flames, closing in on the wrecked tank before the fire spread further. Ambulance and emergency services reported no serious injuries, though a number of patients were treated for smoke inhalation.
The NOC warned that continued attacks could force it to suspend operations and called on authorities to investigate the perpetrators. This incident comes after two earlier drone strikes on neighboring facilities, including a naphtha reservoir and a water desalination plant.
The attacks underscore the fragile security situation in Libya, which remains split between a western government in Tripoli and an eastern faction backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar. The civil conflict erupted following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, leaving the country vulnerable to external and internal hostility.
