Emergency declared at Libya’s Zawiya refinery amid clashes near facility

A state of emergency was declared Friday at Libya’s Zawiya oil refinery amid armed clashes near the facility, local outlet Libya Al-Ahrar reported.

The refinery, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of the capital Tripoli, is considered Libya’s largest operational refinery, with a production capacity of 120,000 barrels per day.

The facility is connected to the Sharara oil field, which produces around 300,000 barrels per day.

Later on Friday, the Zawiya Security Directorate announced the launch of a broad security operation targeting what it described as “hideouts of outlaws,” according to a statement issued in coordination with security agencies and based on orders from the public prosecution.

No immediate information was available about casualties or the extent of the clashes near the refinery.

Libya remains divided between two rival administrations: the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli led by Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah and an eastern-based administration appointed by the House of Representatives and headed by Osama Hammad in Benghazi.

The UN has for years led efforts aimed at resolving the political divide and organizing long-delayed elections intended to reunify Libya’s institutions.