Arabic version: ضربة بطائرة مسيّرة تشعل حريقاً كبيراً في مصفاة الزاوية الليبية

According to BBC News, Libyan emergency services have been battling to contain a huge fire at the Zawiya refinery, west of Tripoli, after unknown attackers targeted the major oil plant in a drone strike on Monday evening.

The National Oil Corporation said a tank holding about 4.5m litres of fuel was directly hit. The strike triggered a large blaze and caused the tank to collapse. The corporation said it was considering suspending operations if attacks continued.

Libya’s Ambulance and Emergency Service said there were no “serious injuries” from the fire. Most patients were treated for smoke inhalation.

The Zawiya refinery is Libya’s largest operational facility, producing 120,000 barrels per day. The incident was the third such attack in two days, the NOC said.

The NOC also condemned recent attacks in Zawiya, including two drone strikes on a naphtha reservoir and a water desalination plant, and called on authorities to investigate who was behind the violence.