• Drone attacks on Libya's Zawiya refinery have led to a significant fire.
• The National Oil Corporation warns of a potential force majeure declaration.
• The refinery is crucial for Libya's economy, with a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day.
• Emergency services report no serious injuries, but investigations are underway.
• The attacks underscore ongoing instability in Libya's political landscape.

Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) has warned that it may have to declare a state of force majeure and suspend operations at the Zawiya refinery if drone attacks continue. This warning comes after a significant fire broke out following a drone strike on a gasoline reservoir on Monday evening; it marked the third attack on oil assets in the area within two days, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The drone strike on the Zawiya refinery, which has a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day, caused a tank containing approximately 4.5 million liters of gasoline to collapse, igniting a massive fire that firefighters struggled to control. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported, mainly involving smoke inhalation, according to the Libyan Ambulance and Emergency Service. This incident highlights the urgent security threats facing Libya's vital oil infrastructure, as stated by Africa News and BBC.

The attacks have raised alarm for the NOC, which condemned the incidents that included previous strikes on a naphtha reservoir and a water desalination plant over the weekend. In response, the NOC has called on authorities to investigate these assaults on oil facilities, emphasizing their importance to the national economy and the need for protection, as outlined by both Al Jazeera and Africa News.

Libya remains divided politically, with two rival governments vying for power since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah’s administration in Tripoli has committed to addressing security concerns following these attacks, highlighting the ongoing instability in the region. The situation remains fluid as investigations proceed into these targeted strikes, which have been denounced as detrimental to a critical sector of the Libyan economy, according to Reuters, BBC, and Africa News.