On 1 January, the Western Region Security Directorate’s Support Force announced that during the night before, two of its members were killed and two others injured after one of its patrols near al‑Ajilat on the coast (west of Sabratha) was struck by a drone strike. During the day, drones were continuously patrolling the area of al-Ajilat.
According to the Force, the patrol had responded to a citizen’s report about a boat prepared for an illegal migration attempt. When the patrol arrived, a group of migrants fled, and two were detained. As the unit attempted to tow the boat from the water, it came under drone fire, resulting in the casualties. The statement added that the Attorney General has formally opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible. The Force condemned the strike as an aggressive act, noting that it has rescued thousands of migrants at sea in recent years and provided them with medical and humanitarian assistance. They called for a swift and transparent investigation, urging national authorities to prioritize the public interest and to avoid actions that weaken state security structures.
Other sources claimed that the group was attacked as they prepared for the launch of a boat intended to transport illegal migrants over the Mediterranean.
The Media Office of the Security Directorate’s Support Agency in Tripoli issued a statement firmly denying any link to the group operating in al‑Ajilat under the name Western Region Security Directorates Support Force. It clarified that the agency reports directly to the Ministry of Interior and has no branches or offices in the western region.