Libyan Defence Ministry to launch precision airstrikes on criminal hideouts

The Ministry of Defense under Libya’s Government of National Unity has announced plans to conduct targeted airstrikes against what it termed “dens of outlaw groups,” with a focus on dismantling networks involved in human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Although the specific locations remain undisclosed, a public advisory issued via the government’s official Facebook page urged residents to keep away from the identified zones and refrain from aiding the suspects. The ministry underscored its commitment to safeguarding civilians and called on the public to cooperate with military and security forces as part of a broader national responsibility.

This development follows unverified reports of drone strikes earlier in the day on suspected boat-manufacturing sites used by migrant smugglers in the coastal city of Sabratha. It also mirrors past military actions, including operations earlier this year in Al-Zawiya by the Western Coast Military Zone, which reportedly led to the destruction of several criminal enclaves. The government’s latest move signals a continued crackdown on transnational crime networks along Libya’s western coast.