Libya’s eastern administration, led by General Khalifa Haftar, has threatened to stop oil production and exports following an armed attack on the National Oil Corporation (NOC) headquarters in Tripoli.

According to reports, the gunmen who stormed the NOC offices demanded payment for security services. The National Oil Corporation confirmed the clash lasted about 30 minutes and did not disrupt operations.

Haftar’s warning comes amid growing violence in Tripoli between militias loyal to Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and rival factions. The instability has raised fears of a renewed conflict between Dbeibah’s government and Haftar’s forces, who previously fought a civil war ending in a 2020 ceasefire.

The national unity government issued a statement saying, “Repeated attacks” on oil infrastructure could lead to “precautionary measures,” such as declaring force majeure at oil fields and terminals or relocating the company’s main offices to a safer location.

Observers warn that Libya’s oil sector, which holds the largest reserves in Africa, remains vulnerable to political tensions that threaten the country’s fragile stability.

A government spokesperson said, “These attacks not only undermine our national economy but also jeopardize the peace efforts underway.”With national elections stalled and unrest growing, the country’s future remains uncertain as both camps jockey for control over Libya’s vital oil resources.