Libya: Military operation against traffickers and smugglers in Zawiya

The Libyan Government of National Unity, based in Tripoli and recognized by the UN, announced on Monday the deployment of armed forces and the execution of airstrikes in the city of Zawiya, located 45 km west of Tripoli. This operation aims to eliminate “hotbeds” of smuggling and drug trafficking, according to a statement from the command of the Western Coast Military Region, affiliated with the government.

Zawiya, known for its oil refineries and illicit activities, is regularly the scene of clashes between rival gangs involved in various forms of trafficking, including the smuggling of fuel and goods to neighboring Tunisia. On Sunday night into Monday, drone-led airstrikes targeted and destroyed sites linked to fuel traffickers in Asban, a rural area near Zawiya. No information regarding potential casualties has been released.

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