Battle of Benghazi (2014–present)

Battle of Benghazi (2014–present)
Part of Second Libyan Civil War

Situation as of 25 November 2016
Date15 October 2014 – Present
(2 years, 1 month, 2 weeks and 2 days)
LocationBenghazi, Libya
Result

Ongoing

  • LNA recaptures most of Benghazi
  • Benghazi Defense Brigades captures several towns and villages west of Benghazi
  • LNA repels BDB's offensive on Benghazi, launches counter-offensive on territories held by the militants
Belligerents

Libya Libyan National Army
Supported by:
France France

Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries

  • Benghazi Defense Brigades

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya[2]
Supported by:

Commanders and leaders
Libya FM. Khalifa Haftar
(Commander of Operation Dignity)
Libya Colonel Abdussalam Al-Hassi
(Commander of the LNA’s Benghazi operations room)[1]
Col. Wanis Abu Khamada
(Commander of Libya's Special Forces)
Brig. Gen. Saqr Geroushi
(Commander of the Libyan Air Force)		 Abu Khalid Al-Madani[3]
(Ansar al-Sharia Leader)
Wissam Ben Hamid
(Libya Shield 1 Commander)
Abdel Qader al-Najdi
Casualties and losses
Unknown number of LNA soldiers killed
3 French DGSE operators killed, 1 helicopter shot down.[1]		 Unknown
700 killed overall (by February 2015)[4]

The Battle of Benghazi (2014–present) is one of the battles of the Libyan Civil War of 2014. It is fought since October 2014 between the Islamic Fundamentalist Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries (supported by the LROR and Misrata Brigades), Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya and the Libyan Army, and some people stand with Army into the city. The Battle was a direct consequence of the failed Benina Airport Offensive by the Benghazi Revolutionaries and their Allies, which allowed LNA Forces to regroup and attack deep into Benghazi.

By May 2016, the LNA controlled at least 90% of the City, including Ansar Al-Sharia's main Neighborhood of Al-Laithi, Benghazi University and the Cement Factory.[5]

A number of Benghazi revolutionaries regrouped later on and announced the formation of Benghazi Defense Brigades in June 2016 to support the Shura Council.[6] By June 22, LNA captured the Gharyounis district and most of the tourist village at Ganfouda, under the control of Benghazi Shura.[7] In July 2016, Benghazi Defense Brigades had started moving towards the city after capturing many towns and cities west of it.[8] On 17 July, it claimed it had shot down a LNA helicopter.[9] The militia later on 19 July reported that two French special forces troops were possibly among the crew killed in the crash.[10] A day later, French government confirmed that three French special forces soldiers had died in the crash.[11]

By 22–23 July, Libyan National Army repelled the offensive by the militia[12] and launched a counter-offensive to recapture all territories under control of BDB, capturing several parts of the Gwarsha district by mid-August and offering ceasefire to the militants if they surrendered.[13] On 16 November, the LNA captured Gwarsha Gate, as well as the Gwarsha district on the next day and were besieging fighters from the Benghazi Revolutionary Shura Council in Ganfouda. 23 soldiers were killed in the clashes, while 60 were wounded.[14][15] LNA captured over 20 square kilometres of area in Ganfouda in the next four days with Shura-held territory being reduced to less than 6 square kilometres. A mufti of the Shura Council was also killed in the clashes.[16] On 22 November, LNA started shelling Sabri and Suq al-Hout in preparation for a future offensive to retake the two districts.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3
  2. ↑ "ISIS Shows Off Corpses After Attack in Benghazi". Heavy.com. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "Libya's Islamists Ansar al-Sharia confirm leader's death - monitoring". Reuters. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Libyan factions to resume talks on Tuesday; Benghazi death toll hits 700
  5. ↑ "Libya's eastern army makes further advances around Benghazi". Reuters. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "Libyan revolutionary factions form Defend Benghazi Brigades". The Libya Observer. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "LNA claims control of Garyounis". The Libya Herald. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "Benghazi Defense Brigades advance toward Benghazi". Libyan Express. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "Benghazi Defense Brigades shoot down Dignity Operation helicopter". Libyan Express. 17 July 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "Two French troops among crew of downed helicopter, Benghazi Defense Brigades say". Libyan Express. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  11. ↑ "Three French Special Forces Soldiers Killed in Helicopter Crash in Libya". 20 July 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  12. ↑ this article on July 25 Eye on ISIS in Libya (25 July 2016)
  13. ↑ "LNA claims control of Garyounis". The Libya Herald. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  14. ↑ "East Libyan army claims control of long-contested Benghazi district". Reuters. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  15. ↑ "At least 23 soldiers die as army advances into Ganfouda". Libya Herald. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "Army says Benghazi terrorists almost beaten". Libya Herald. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  17. ↑ "Army turns its fire on Benghazi's Sabri district". Libya Herald. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.

Coordinates: 32°07′00″N 20°04′00″E / 32.1167°N 20.0667°E / 32.1167; 20.0667

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