Violent clashes broke out at dawn on Saturday between forces of the Western Coast Military Zone and an armed group in the city of Al-Zawiya, western Libya, in an attempt to seize control of the oil refinery. This has sparked fears over potential damage to storage tanks and gas pipelines.
Eyewitnesses reported at least one person killed and several others injured as a result of the clashes, which erupted between the so-called First Support Battalion—a notorious faction led by Mohammed Kashlaf, known as “Al-Qasab”—and the Joint Force of the Western Coast Military Zone, commanded by Salah Al-Namroush.
This came just one day after the First Support Battalion announced it had regained control of Al-Zawiya refinery and expelled Al-Namroush’s forces during intense fighting on Friday. During those clashes, Al-Qasab’s forces reestablished their positions around the vital facility after having been ousted from it last February.
Videos shared on social media captured the sounds of the clashes near the refinery, along with footage showing members of the Support Battalion taking control of the area.
Despite the rising tension, the Western Coast Military Zone has yet to issue a statement detailing the clashes or clarifying the status of its forces in the area. The Ministry of Defense of the Government of National Unity has also not commented on these fast-developing events.
The city is currently experiencing cautious calm, while residents fearing that renewed clashes could break out at any moment. Many citizens have voiced strong frustration over the government’s continued silence amid the deteriorating security situation in Al-Zawiya.
