Drone Strikes Hit Zawiya Oil Hub as Libyan Infrastructure Crumbles

The attack follows a series of recent strikes, including one that ruptured a storage tank containing 4.5 million liters of gasoline. While the National Oil Corporation managed to contain a separate leak caused by a drone crashing into a naphtha tank over the weekend, the persistent targeting of the Zawiya hub has left authorities on edge. No group has claimed responsibility for the campaign, which underscores the vulnerability of assets linked to the Sharara oil field—a site often paralyzed by political blockades.

Zawiya remains a cornerstone of the national economy, boasting a daily export capacity of 120,000 barrels. The National Oil Corporation has signaled that further damage will leave them no choice but to declare force majeure on exports. Despite these security threats, the corporation maintains an ambitious long-term outlook, targeting an increase in national production from 1.4 million to 2 million barrels per day within the next few years.