Libya’s western city of Zawiya is facing a severe security escalation after days of repeated clashes between rival armed groups, leaving several people dead and wounded, including civilians, and causing damage to key infrastructure and public facilities.
Local media reports and eyewitness accounts said the violence has spread across parts of the city, raising fears of further instability in one of western Libya’s most strategically important areas. Zawiya is home to Libya’s largest oil refinery and lies on the vital coastal road, making security developments in the city highly significant for the country’s oil sector and wider economy.
According to local reports, Ibrahim Al-Shaalali, known as Al-Wahmi, was killed and Omar Shaladi was injured after unknown gunmen opened fire on them on the Bir Al-Ghanam road. In a separate incident, a man and his daughter sustained varying injuries after being caught in an exchange of fire between armed men travelling in armoured vehicles through residential neighbourhoods.
The incidents have deepened public anger in Zawiya, where tribal and social groups issued a statement rejecting what they described as the growing chaos caused by militias. The statement warned that the continuing violence poses a direct threat to civil peace, public safety, and economic stability, particularly because of the city’s connection to Libya’s oil infrastructure.
Local groups called for the establishment of security checkpoints inside the city to curb lawlessness and prevent further violence. They also rejected attacks on public and private property, urging urgent measures to protect residents and restore order.
Human rights monitors have also reported civilian casualties. The Libya Crimes Watch organisation documented the deaths of two women as a result of shelling and random gunfire in residential areas. It also reported damage to oil facilities belonging to Brega Petroleum Marketing Company and the destruction of three electricity stations, causing disruption to fuel supplies and power services across parts of western Libya.
Rights groups have called for an immediate end to attacks affecting civilians and demanded accountability for those responsible for violations. The latest unrest has renewed concerns about the ability of local and national authorities to contain armed groups operating in and around the city.
In a related development, the Zawiya Court of Appeal issued death sentences against two people convicted in connection with a 2017 mass killing that left four people dead. The defendants were also convicted of forming an armed gang and possessing unlicensed weapons. Additional prison sentences were issued in cases involving damage to public and private property.
Over recent weeks, Zawiya has witnessed public protests in Martyrs’ Square and other areas, where residents voiced anger over the deteriorating security situation. Protesters accused official bodies of failing to curb the influence of armed groups that control sensitive economic sites and fuel wider instability.
The United Nations has expressed concern over the continued clashes and called for restraint and a return to political dialogue. However, local observers say the impact of security interventions remains limited due to the complex network of armed factions, informal economic interests, and smuggling activity in the area.
Zawiya’s unrest reflects the wider fragility of security in western Libya, where armed rivalries often overlap with fuel smuggling, human trafficking, and competition over strategic economic assets. Analysts say the city has become one of the country’s most sensitive flashpoints because of the direct link between security, oil infrastructure, and economic stability.
The latest escalation comes as Libya continues to face deep political and security divisions. These divisions have allowed armed formations to expand their influence in several cities, particularly in areas of major economic importance. For Zawiya, this has created a recurring cycle of tension between armed power, public anger, and the shadow economy.