Ukrainian-made drones used in oil complex attacks shake Libya

A report by Radio France Internationale has raised new questions about the nature of the drones used in the attacks on the Zawiya oil complex, powerplant, and other vital facilities, as reported by LY Witness on August 15th. 

The report pointed towards the use of Ukrainian-made FPVs powered by fiber optic technology, and photos and videos from the sites of the attacks showed aircraft of this type, noting that the attackers targeted the Zawiya power station, in addition to a fuel tank that the Brega Oil Marketing Company stated contained 13 million litres of gasoline. The reservoir targeting led to a fire that lasted multiple days and caused environmental and economic damage, in addition to its impact on vital facilities and the broader energy supply of the city. 

According to information from the report, some parties have leveled accusations against armed groups loyal to the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, noting that he had previously purchased drones from Ukraine that were used in operations against armed groups in Zawiya. 

The report added that a crash occurred in which an FPV suicide drone caused the death of a 7-year-old girl in close proximity to a villa near the Tripoli airport. The villa in which the death occurred is located near the base of the 111th brigade, led by Abdel Salam al-Zoubi, who was appointed deputy minister of defense in 2024, while the radio quoted military sources as saying the base includes systems for launching Ukrainian drones. 

Workers were evacuated from the Zawiya power plant  after it was attacked, the report said, while the United States called for an investigation into the incident.

Radio France Internationale also reported that a surprise security meeting was held on August 11th in which the leader of one of Zawiya’s armed groups, Mohammed Bahrun, officials close to the GNU, including Ibrahim Dbeibah, and Sufyan al-Shaibani, Libya’s ambassador to the UAE, all attended. 

A photo released following the meeting showed the three together with the report adding that drone attacks abruptly stopped after the meeting took place. 

The report stated that Bahroun is one of the most prominent armed group leaders in Zawiya, which has faced years of ongoing fuel, drugs, human and weapon smuggling networks, alongside frequent clashes between armed groups fuelling ongoing security concerns. 

LY Witness, Maghrebi.org