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Security forces in the western Libyan city of Zawiya initiated an extensive crackdown on Friday, targeting various criminal organisations within the strategic coastal hub.
The operation, which commenced at dawn, involved military units and security personnel conducting raids and arrests throughout the city.
Local authorities stated that the mission was designed to dismantle hideouts and apprehend individuals wanted for serious offences, including murder, kidnapping, human trafficking, and drug smuggling.
The city, located roughly 45 kilometres from Tripoli, was reportedly shaken by the sounds of heavy gunfire and explosions.
While the refinery complex, a vital piece of Libya’s oil infrastructure, appeared to be near the centre of the unrest, residents were advised by emergency services to stay indoors for their safety.
The disruption coincided with Friday prayers, a time when mosques are typically crowded with worshippers.
Zawiya has long been a flashpoint for conflict between rival armed groups and is notorious for its illicit smuggling networks, particularly those dealing in fuel and weapons near the Tunisian border.
It also serves as a major transit point for irregular migrants attempting the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to Europe.
The recent violence underscores the ongoing instability in Libya, which remains politically fractured between competing administrations in the east and west.
