Libya’s Criminal Investigation Agency has announced the recovery of three missiles left behind from previous conflicts in the Bin Shuaib area, south of the western city of Al-Zawiya, highlighting ongoing efforts to address the threat posed by unexploded ordnance across the country.
According to a statement issued by the agency, a specialised team from the Western Region Security Inspection and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department responded after receiving information about suspicious military remnants discovered on a farm in the area.
The team identified and secured three different types of munitions, including a 122mm training missile, a guided Kornet anti-tank missile and a highly explosive 68mm missile. Officials said the devices were safely recovered and removed from the site in accordance with approved technical and security procedures.
The agency confirmed that the recovered munitions were transported to designated storage facilities and will later be destroyed using approved disposal methods to eliminate any potential risk to local residents and surrounding agricultural land.
The discovery underscores the continued challenge posed by unexploded ordnance and war remnants in Libya, more than a decade after the country experienced widespread armed conflict. Security authorities and specialised disposal units continue to conduct operations aimed at locating and removing dangerous military materials that remain scattered across several regions.
Libyan officials have repeatedly warned that abandoned explosives and munitions pose a serious threat to civilians, particularly in rural communities where agricultural activities often bring residents into contact with former conflict zones.
Authorities have urged citizens to avoid handling suspicious objects and to immediately report any suspected explosives to security agencies.