A classified leak has revealed that the Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, allegedly coordinated with the Italian government to carry out recent airstrikes on western Libyan coastal cities in an effort to disrupt migrant smuggling operations.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the strikes—conducted in early August—targeted areas in the cities of Sabratha, Zuwara, and Zawiya, known transit points for irregular migration toward Europe. The operations were reportedly carried out by Italian military aircraft, raising concerns over foreign military activity on Libyan territory with limited transparency or oversight.
The leak comes in the wake of a controversial airstrike in Zawiya, which reportedly struck a residential neighborhood, injuring a child and causing significant damage to civilian homes and vehicles. Footage verified by Al-‘Unwan news outlet showed the aftermath of the attack, which was initially attributed to drones operated by the GNU’s Ministry of Defense.
However, Turkish defense officials have since confirmed that Turkish drones stationed in Libya were not involved in the strikes—further intensifying speculation over the involvement of a foreign power. Italy has not publicly commented on the reports, nor has the GNU responded to the allegations.
The National Commission for Human Rights in Libya condemned the repeated strikes in Zawiya and Zuwara, describing them as a “blatant violation” of international humanitarian law. In a statement, the Commission warned that targeting civilian infrastructure without clear distinction or proportionality could amount to war crimes under international legal frameworks.
The use of foreign military force, particularly if conducted without parliamentary or international oversight, may open the door to legal challenges and further political instability in Libya’s already volatile western region.
Calls are growing for an independent investigation into the nature of the strikes, their legal basis, and the extent of foreign involvement. International observers have also raised questions about the implications of such covert cooperation on Libya’s sovereignty and the broader dynamics of migration control in the central Mediterranean.
As of this writing, both the GNU and the Italian government have yet to issue official statements addressing the leaked information.