On 7 November in the early morning, a number of boats in the port of Zuwara were destroyed by at least one combat drone.
According to a Government of National Unity (GNU) source, cited in several media outlets, the operation targeted boats allegedly used in migrant smuggling across the Mediterranean. According to the source, the precision strikes were carried out after careful monitoring and tracking of the movements of smuggling networks operating in the area and resulted in no human casualties. The operation forms part of a broader security strategy aimed at dismantling trafficking networks and tightening control over maritime ports exploited for illegal activities. However, the GNU has not officially commented on the attacks.
During the same night several other locations along the West Coast, most of them in the vicinity of Zawiyya, were attacked. During the airstrikes, two Sudanese and a Tunisian were reportedly killed.
The Coast Guard and Security Support Unit in Zuwara accused the GNU of bombing civilians in the airstrike on the port of Zuwara in an attempt to create the impression that it was taking action against illegal migration. The statement said the attack hit civilian fishing boats as well as two coast guard vessels, causing injuries including some critical cases. The Coast Guard and Security Support Unit in Zuwara blamed the government of using the operation to distract from corruption and chaos in Tripoli incuding repeated failures such as unpaid salaries.
During the nights 7-8 November and 8-9 November, a number of additional boats were destroyed by air strikes in the port of Zuwara. Since the morning of 9 November, no more airstrikes on Zuwara have been reported.
Zuwaran authorities and representatives have condemned the attacks and have rejected claims that the drones targeted human smugglers.
On 9 November, Ghali al-Tuwayni, head of Zuwara’s council of elders, accused the GNU of terrorizing civilians and burning fishermen’s property after several drone strikes hit again the city’s port. He said the burned boats were used for fishing, not smuggling, and claimed the government was misleading the public by justifying attacks as anti-human trafficking efforts. The council of elders plans to take legal action over the civilian targeting.
Beseda Environmental Association, dedicated to the protection of Farwah Island, reported that its facilities in Zuwara were struck on the night of 8- 9 November by a drone. The Association strongly denied any involvement in smuggling, human trafficking, or other illicit activities, calling the airstrike a ‘great injustice’ and a smear on its reputation.
The Martyrs of Jabal Nafusa Brigade condemned the air campaign that had been ongoing since 7 November, criticizing the strikes on multiple sites in Zuwara under the stated aim of combating smuggling and human trafficking.
An Amazigh group threatened to shut down the gas pipeline from Mellitah to Italy in a reaction to the airstrikes on Zuwara. As of 11 November, this has not occurred.
The Libyan National Institution for Human Rights condemned drone strikes by the Dabaiba government on Zuwara port and civilian fishing boats, warning that repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes.
Given the GNU has not officially taken responsibility for these attacks nor justified them, the Libyan rumour mill has been working overtime in the wake of these attacks.
Several media published pictures of a crashed drone that was allegedly shot down near the port of Zuwara immediately after the first attack. According to these media reports, the drone was a Ukrainian combat drone that was delivered to the GNU via Algeria.
There were claims in some media outlets that the delivery of the ‘Ukrainian’ drones and the strikes were carried out as part of efforts to prevent the flow of migrants to Italy and to settle them within Libya, in implementation of an agreement between PM Abdul Hameed Dabaiba and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.