On 12 August in the early morning, the office of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) in the Kadusha area of Zliten was attacked with gunfire and at least one mortar bomb by unidentified elements.
There were no casualties and only limited damage to the building. Allegedly, a building next to the office was hit by a mortar bomb. Two persons were slightly injured. The Zliten Municipal Council condemned the armed attack in an official statement, describing the attack as a desperate attempt to destabilize the city. The Municipal Council stressed that these actions will not deter the council from supporting the commission, but will instead strengthen its resolve to rally behind it to ensure the continuation of the electoral process.
HNEC condemned the armed attack on its Zliten office as a grave violation of democratic principles and citizens’ rights. Calling the assault a ‘barbaric act,’ HNEC reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the electoral process despite growing security threats and political divisions. HNEC urged security forces and stakeholders to protect the integrity of the vote, warning that sabotage would only deepen Libya’s instability.
On 14 August, UNSMIL condemned the armed attack on the HNEC office in Zliten, denouncing it as an attempt to intimidate voters, candidates and electoral staff and calling for a full investigation and accountability. The mission urged security institutions, in coordination with local leaders, to guarantee safe conditions for the 16 August municipal elections and voiced concern over this month’s suspension of elections in some key municipalities – including Benghazi, Tubruq, Sabha and Sirte – by the Government of Nationaly Stability’s (GNS) Ministry of Interior, noting that these disruptions breach Security Council Resolution 2755 (2024) and undermine citizens’ right to choose their local representatives. UNSMIL urged all relevant authorities to engage positively and enable the swift resumption of the electoral process as soon as possible. It is not clear why there was a two-day delay in UNSMIL condemning the attack.
On the same day, West Coast Military District Commander and Libyan Army Deputy CoS Lieutenant General Salaheddin al-Namroush briefed Prime Minister and Defense Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba on the western region’s security situation, with a particular focus on the upcoming local elections, and outlined organizational measures to enhance stability across various areas. Dabaiba reaffirmed his government’s full support for the military and stressed the need to bolster security and stability nationwide.