At least three Libyan youths were killed in a boat explosion on Sunday evening off the coast of Zawiya, located about 60 km west of Tripoli, according to local newspaper Al-Marsad.
The victims were identified as Mohamed Ben Shtwan, Anwar Al-Majdoub, and Nasser Sultan. The report indicated that there were additional casualties whose identities have not yet been confirmed. Details regarding the exact time or cause of the explosion remain unclear, and no official statements have been issued so far.
Libya has long been a key transit point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, particularly since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. Smuggling networks have flourished amid deep political divisions and persistent insecurity, often exposing migrants to dangerous journeys, detention center abuses, and frequent shipwrecks. The country remains politically fragmented between the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity and an eastern administration aligned with Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army.
