Libya deploys Turkish drones to target human smuggling networks

Libya’s internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) has launched drone strikes on human smuggling operations along the northwestern coast, according to Middle East Eye (MEE).

The strikes, which reportedly took place in the coastal cities of Sabratha and Zwara, marked the first known use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by the GNU to combat trafficking networks.

“These operations reflect our zero-tolerance stance toward criminal smuggling networks,” said Deputy Defense Minister Abdulsalam Al-Zoubi. The attacks were part of a campaign “to degrade and dismantle the criminal gangs and networks trafficking in human lives and people-smuggling into Europe,” he added.

The UAVs used in the strikes were reportedly Turkish-made, consistent with Turkey’s support for the Tripoli-based GNU. Libya remains divided between rival governments, with Egypt, Russia, and the UAE backing the eastern administration based in Benghazi.

According to the GNU, the targets included boat factories believed to be used in transporting migrants across the Mediterranean. It claimed that no civilians were harmed during the strikes.

Libya has become a key transit point for irregular migration to Europe, with thousands of migrants attempting the dangerous sea journey each year.

The drone strikes represent a new tactical shift by the GNU amid ongoing efforts to assert control over its territory and curb smuggling operations.