Libyan authorities battle big blaze at major oil refinery
A drone that struck the Zawiya refinery in western Libya in the evening of Monday unleashed a blaze that collapsed a tank holding roughly 4.5 million litres of fuel. The fire spread rapidly, forcing emergency services to engage in a frantic firefighting effort that has since subsided, but the damage remains significant.
While no serious injuries were reported, the Libyan Ambulance and Emergency Service said that most victims suffered smoke inhalation. Hospital staff treated patients for minor burns and respiratory distress.
The refinery is the country's largest operational facility, with an output of 120,000 barrels per day. Its destruction threatens to setback Libya's already fragile oil infrastructure.
The National Oil Corporation condemned the attack and called for an investigation into the perpetrators. It warned that it may have to suspend operations if further strikes occur.
The incident marks a third drone strike on Libyan targets in two days, underscoring persistent instability in the country. Since the ousting of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been split between rival power centers: the east, backed by commander Khalifa Haftar, and the west, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, each vying for dominance.
These evolving tensions raise concerns for regional security and fuel markets, as disruptions to Libya's production could reverberate across global supply chains.
