A drone strike has ignited a major fire at a power substation in the western Libyan city of Zawiya, completely destroying the facility and cutting off electricity for residents and businesses. The state-run General Electricity Company confirmed that the attack knocked the substation, which serves as a critical link between power plants and the local grid, out of service. Footage released by the utility provider captured massive flames and fireballs erupting from the site.
The city of Zawiya, located approximately 47 kilometers west of the capital, Tripoli, has a population of about 250,000 and is currently grappling with a series of drone attacks targeting its vital energy infrastructure. The city hosts essential facilities, including a power plant, an export terminal, and Libya’s largest oil refinery. On Monday, a separate drone strike hit a fuel-laden tank at the refinery, leading to a massive blaze that took firefighters over 15 hours to extinguish. The refinery also faced repeated attacks throughout the weekend and on Tuesday.
Regarding the power plant, the electricity company reported that two drones struck the facility on Tuesday. One drone damaged the plant's firefighting system, while the second landed near the main fuel storage, causing a fire. As a direct result of these security threats, the U.S. firm General Electric has withdrawn its teams from the plant, citing the need for a safe work environment. This departure follows a previous withdrawal of GE staff due to security concerns, which had already hindered the restoration of over 700 megawatts of the station's 1,300-megawatt production capacity.
Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, who leads one of Libya’s two rival governments, strongly condemned the strikes as a serious escalation and a criminal act. He vowed that those responsible would be held accountable, stating that no individual’s position or influence would protect them from the consequences of these attacks. No group has claimed responsibility for the drone strikes thus far.
The violence in Zawiya occurs amid rising tensions between the Tripoli-based government and Mohamed Bahroun, a warlord who exerts control over the city. Libya remains deeply divided between rival administrations, with Dbeibah governing the west and Prime Minister Ossama Hammad overseeing the east. The attacks also coincided with a visit to Tripoli by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who was meeting with Dbeibah and Presidential Council Chairman Mohammad Younes Menfi. Turkey, a primary backer of the western government, has recently sought to mend ties with eastern authorities as part of broader efforts to unify the country, which has been plagued by conflict since the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gadhafi.
