Libyan emergency services battled a large blaze at the Zawiya oil refinery, west of Tripoli, following a drone strike on Monday evening. The attack, attributed to unknown assailants, marked the third such incident in two days targeting the facility.
The National Oil Corporation (NOC) reported that a tank holding approximately 4.5 million liters of fuel was struck directly, causing a significant fire that led to the tank's collapse. The corporation indicated it might suspend operations if the attacks persist.
Libya's Ambulance and Emergency Service stated on Tuesday that there were no serious injuries resulting from the fire, with most treated for smoke inhalation. The Zawiya refinery is Libya's largest operational oil facility, with a daily output of 120,000 barrels.
The NOC has condemned previous drone strikes in Zawiya, including those that hit a naphtha reservoir and a water desalination plant in recent days. The corporation has called for an investigation into the perpetrators of these attacks.
These incidents underscore the ongoing instability in Libya, a nation divided since a civil war began after the 2011 rebellion that ousted former leader Muammar Gaddafi. Since Gaddafi's fall, rival power centers have vied for political and military control, with one based in the east and another in the west, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah.