Libya possesses a chemical weapons
(CW) stockpile and is in the process of acquiring a biological weapons
(BW) capability. Like its neighbors Iran and Iraq, Lybia has employed
CW in combat. In 1987, Lybia used CW against Chadian troops.
The size of Libya's CBW stockpiles
is unknown. During the 1980's, Libya was believed to have produced
up to 100 tons of blister and nerve agents at a CW facility in Rabta that
has since temporarily closed and reopened as a pharmaceutical facility.
Libya is not believed to be able to possess more than laboratory quantities
of BW.
Chemical Weapons:
Though Libya currently lacks a solid
technical foundation to build an independent CBW capability, Qadhafi has
continued to import precursor chemical agent necessary to produce CW and
to continue construction on a CW production plant outside Tripoli.
Intelligence reports confirm that in 1997, Iran supplied Libya with agents
known to have CW applications. More recently, South Africa was suspected
of providing Libya with equipment for the manufacture of CW and of sending
advisors to Libya to help establish their CW program.
Biological Weapons:
Despite outside assistance, Libya's
BW program is currently only in the R&D stage. However because
of Libyan President Muammar Qadhafi's anti-Western stance and antagonism with several neighboring
countries, including Egypt, the threat from a Libyan CBW capability cannot
be underestimated.
Last updated on November 16, 2000
For more information on Libya's CBW capability,
email Chris Hellman, research analyst.
