Clashes erupted in Zawiya, a city in western Libya, on Sunday, as armed factions engaged in intense fighting, leaving many residents confined to their homes and resulting in significant damage to the nation’s second-largest oil refinery. Officials reported that the violent confrontations involved gunmen associated with the Shurafaa tribe clashing against forces led by military figure Mohamed Kushlaf, a controversial leader who has been under U.N. sanctions since 2018 for suspected human trafficking activities.

The precise cause of the conflict remains unknown; however, such violence is frequent in western Libya, a region dominated by various armed groups and militias that have aligned with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s administration. Libya has faced ongoing turmoil since the 2011 uprising against long-time ruler Moammar Gadhafi, which descended into civil war and created a power vacuum that these militias have exploited to increase their dominance and influence, particularly in the west.

The recent clashes have disrupted normal life in Zawiya, halting traffic on a crucial coastal route that connects the city to other areas and forcing the suspension of school activities. Local resident Ahmed Abu Hussein reported via phone that numerous families were trapped indoors as gunfire reverberated throughout populated neighborhoods, creating widespread fear and chaos among the civilian population.

The violent confrontations have also inflicted serious damage on the Zawiya oil refinery, as confirmed by the Libyan National Oil Corporation, which noted that bullets struck storage tanks, igniting “dangerous” fires. Thankfully, firefighters have been able to control these fires and contain the resulting gas leaks, despite the ongoing skirmishes nearby.

In response to the extraordinary situation, the oil company has declared a state of emergency and invoked force majeure, a legal concept that frees them of certain contractual obligations due to unforeseen circumstances. Last month, a separate conflict in Tripoli between rival militias resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals and injuries to 16 others, highlighting the persistent volatility in the region.

At present, Libya is experiencing a division between the rival governments led by Dbeibah in Tripoli and Prime Minister Ossama Hammad in the eastern part of the country, who is supported by forces associated with prominent military figure Khalifa Hifter. The ongoing conflicts illustrate the fragility of the country’s political situation and the challenges it faces in achieving stability.