Blaze Engulfs Libya’s Largest Oil Refinery After Drone Strike

Sun Sep 06 2026 06:03:46 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A massive fire has erupted at the Zawiya refinery following a drone attack, threatening Libya’s key oil production capacity.

Libyan emergency services are battling a huge blaze at the Zawiya refinery, the country’s largest oil plant, after a drone strike damaged a 4.5 million‑litre fuel tank. The attack has sparked fears that oil output of 120,000 barrels daily could be disrupted, and authorities have warned of possible suspension of operations if attacks continue. While injuries were limited to smoke inhalation, the incident underscores the continuing instability in Libya’s fractured political landscape, where eastern and western factions vie for control.

Blaze engulfs Libya’s largest oil refinery after drone strike

Libyan emergency services are battling a massive fire at the Zawiya refinery, the country’s main oil plant, after a drone strike damaged a 4.5 million‑litre fuel tank. The incident marks the third drone attack on the refinery in two days.

The National Oil Corporation reports that the struck tank collapsed into flames, and the refinery’s output of 120,000 barrels per day could be interrupted if attacks continue. It warned it may suspend operations pending a full security assessment.

Medical services confirmed no serious injuries, with most patients treated for smoke inhalation. The incident, while not lethal, has drawn attention to the heightened risk at critical infrastructure sites.

The attack follows two strikes on a naphtha reservoir and a desalination plant earlier in the week, underscoring the volatility of Libya’s divisions. Since the end of Muammar Gaddafi’s rule in 2011, rival factions—one in the east back‑ed by Khalifa Haftar and one in the west led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah—have struggled for dominance.