One of the main security actors in the recent Surman and Zawia clashes, Mohamed Bahroun, aka Al-Far (the mouse), stated today that the Zawia drone attacks are ‘‘an act of terrorism’’.
Bahroun, Mohamed Al-Gassab and Othman Al-Lahab are the three main security actors in the Greater Surman-Zawia area.
The recent attacks on the Zawia Refinery, Water Desalination Plant and Power Station are believed to be a battle between them for territory and control of the refinery.
The refinery is the main source of fuel to be sold domestically, at black-market prices, or smuggled outside Libya. A litre of diesel has recently surged from around LD 2 to LD 8 on the black-market - rising due to the extended power cuts and black-outs. The official price of the heavily subsidised diesel is LD 0.15/litre.
Zawia refinery is currently under the control of Mohamed Al-Gassab, the commander of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), a force nominally under the command of the Tripoli Ministry of Defence. Tripoli Prime Minister Aldabaiba holds the dual role of the Minister of Defence.
Othman Al-Lahab (the flame), head of the 103rd Battalion, is believed to be entering into an alliance of convenience with Al-Gassab to confront Bahroun.
Bahroun, head of the First Support Group and Deputy Head of the Anti-Security Threat Agency, is believed to be escalating the clashes in Zawia in a bid to seize the refinery.
Attempting to see through the fog of war
While it is very difficult at this early stage to see clearly through the fog of war and social media propaganda and counterpropaganda by all the conflicting sides, early unconfirmed reports seem to indicate that the fibre-optic drones that have attacked the Zawia installations have been launched from areas ostensibly under the control of Bahroun. This does not prove anything categorical at this stage.
The perverse surrealness of Libya?
It must be recalled that Abdalla Al-Lafi, who hails from Zawia, member of Libya’s Presidency Council, held a meeting of security forces in Zawia yesterday. Al-Lafi was urging a de-escalation of the conflict. Bahroun was one of the attendees.
Here is Bahroun’s social media statement:
‘‘To my fellow citizens in the city of Zawia:
The systematic targeting of water, electricity, and oil resources during these trying times facing our city is no trivial matter; rather, it is a direct attack on every citizen—threatening their livelihood, security, and stability.
What we are experiencing goes far beyond mere criminal acts committed by outlaws or corrupt individuals. It is an act of terrorism that no person possessing a shred of humanity, reason, or religious conscience could condone, given the resulting harm and suffering that affects everyone without exception.
The recurrence of these attacks compels us all to confront the situation seriously, investigate the sources, and uncover the full circumstances—whether the perpetrators are local or backed by outside parties. No rational mind or conscience could accept a resident of this city inflicting such harm upon their own people and hometown.
Therefore, it is our collective duty to join forces, cooperate in monitoring and tracking events, uncover the whole truth, identify those behind these acts, and hold accountable anyone proven to be involved’’.
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