Libya witnessed renewed tension after the Esnad Coast Guard and Security Unit reported fresh airstrikes on Zuwara’s fishing port and the Abu Kammash area. The strikes occurred on Monday evening, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the unit affiliated with the Ministry of Defence in the Government of National Unity. The unit did not specify the actor behind the attack, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the escalating situation in the western region.
This latest incident follows Sunday’s announcement by the environmental group BESIDA, which said its headquarters in Zuwara had been struck by what it described as a drone aircraft. The organisation, which is dedicated to protecting Farwa Island and its lagoon, denied any involvement in smuggling, human trafficking or unlawful activities. BESIDA said the attack represented a dangerous development and warned that targeting an environmental NGO undermines civilian community work.
The continued aerial bombardment has drawn strong condemnation from armed groups based in western Libya. The Shahid Jabal Nafusa Battalion denounced what it described as ongoing airstrikes since Thursday, claiming that several locations in Zuwara have been targeted under the pretext of combating smuggling. The latest strike on the BESIDA headquarters intensified concerns about the pattern of attacks.
The battalion said the targeting of civilian facilities, ports and registered fishing boats is evidence of the government’s failure to enforce security. It argued that the strikes represent an attempt to mask shortcomings in monitoring border crossings, airports and southern desert routes used by smuggling networks.
The incidents have raised fears of further instability in Zuwara, a coastal city already sensitive due to proximity to migration and smuggling routes. Local actors are urging authorities to investigate the attacks, identify those responsible and ensure that civilian locations remain off-limits in all security operations. Observers warn that continued ambiguity over the airstrikes risks deepening mistrust between communities and security institutions in the western region.
