Libyan Civil War (2011)

The **Libyan Civil War** is a civil war in Libya that began in the year 2011. It began in the middle of February 2011. Many Libyans were inspired by the uprisings in neighbouring countries, such as Tunisia and Egypt. They violently protested against the government. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi sent troops and tanks to break up the rebellion. Al-Qaeda started bombing, and rebels began forming their own government. The war led to the death of Gaddafi in October, and of thousands of other people.

## Beginning of Conflict Against Gaddafi

The conflict began with series of demonstrations and riots. There were many small protests of about 300-500 people throughout January. Major protests did not begin until 14 February 2011. The demonstrations were protesting against the Government of Libya and its leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. The conflict grew as thousands of people joined the protests. Gaddafi vowed to hunt them down and "clean Libya house by house" until all rebels are gone. However, some of Gaddafi's soldiers began joining the rebels in protest. The protests are thought to have been inspired by the successful uprising in Tunisia and Egypt.

According to NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent, Richard Engel, who entered Libya and had reached the city of Tobruk on 22 February 2011 was quoted as saying, "the protest movement is no longer a protest movement, it's a war. It's open revolt." and on 22 February, _The Economist_ described the protests as an "uprising that is trying to reclaim Libya from the world's longest-ruling autocrat". On 21 February, the Libyan Air Force aircraft attacked civilian protesters in Tripoli which caused international condemnation. By this time, over 300 to 2,000 were dead and over 5,000 were injured.

## Armed conflict

There were small battles until February 24, when Gaddafi sent tanks and troops into Misrata and attacked. Then, on March 6, launched a counter-offensive against Rebels.  This lasted until 12 March. He regained Ra's Lanuf and Brega. The Rebels gained power when NATO and other countries began bombarding Gaddafi's forces with attack aircraft.

The Rebels' launched a counter-offensive on March 27 that lasted until April 1. The Rebels regained a few cities.

The Battle of Misrata was the fiercest battle in the civil war. The Hamza Brigade fought for Gaddafi against the Rebels from 24 February to 12 March. The Khamis Brigade, run by Gaddafi's son Khamis, rolled in and nearly destroyed the entire city. The rebels won the battle and took control of the city.

### End

The rebels also won in Benghazi and other places. They took Tripoli in August. In October the fighting diminished, and the rebels declared victory. His enemies killed Gaddafi on 20 October 2011.

## Infobox (military conflict)

- **conflict**: Libyan Civil War
- **partof**: the Arab Spring and Libyan Crisis (2011–present)
- **image**: Pictures of Libyan Civil War (2011).png
- **image size**: 300
- **caption**: From left to right: Armed pro-government supporters; Pro-government protesters gathered in Green Square, now known as Martyrs' Square; anti-Government protesters in Benghazi; Libyan rebels on a captured T-55 tank.
- **date**: 15 February – 23 October 2011
()
- **place**: Libya
- **result**: Rebel victory
*Overthrow and collapse of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
*Killing of Muammar Gaddafi, Death of Muammar Gaddafi and end of History of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi, his rule over Libya
*Assumption of interim control by National Transitional Council (NTC)
*United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, UN authorisation of 2011 military intervention in Libya, NATO military intervention
*International recognition of the National Transitional Council, Diplomatic recognition of NTC as sole governing authority for Libya by 105 countries, United Nations, UN, European Union, EU, Arab League, AL and African Union, AU
*Factional violence in Libya (2011–14), Factional violence leading to Libyan Civil War (2014–present), another civil war in 2014
- **combatant1**: **National Transitional Council**
*National Liberation Army (Libya), National Liberation Army
*Libyan Islamic Fighting Group
*Anti-Gaddafi tribes

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Enforcing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, UNSC Resolution 1973:
*

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Battle of Wazzin, Minor border clashes:

- **combatant2**: **History of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi#Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya**
*Armed Forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Libyan Armed Forces
*Paramilitary forces
*Pro-Gaddafi tribes
*Foreign mercenaries (alleged)
- **commander1**: Mustafa Abdul Jalil

Omar El-Hariri

Jalal al-Digheily

Abdul Fatah Younis

Suleiman Mahmoud

Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah

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- **commander2**: Muammar Gaddafi

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi

Khamis Gaddafi

Mutassim Gaddafi

Saif al-Arab Gaddafi

Al-Saadi Gaddafi

Abu-Bakr Yunis Jabr

Massoud Abdelhafid

Mahdi al-Arabi
- **strength1**: 17,000 defecting soldiers and volunteers,
200,000 volunteers by war's end
<small>(NTC estimate)</small>
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International Forces: Numerous air and maritime forces (Coalition intervention in Libya#Forces committed, see here)
- **strength2**: 20,000–40,000 soldiers and militia
- **casualties1**: 5,904–6,626 opposition fighters and supporters killed (other estimates: see Casualties of the Libyan civil war, here)
- **casualties2**: 3,309–4,227 soldiers killed (other estimates: see Casualties of the Libyan civil war, here),
7,000 captured*
- **casualties3**: Estimated total casualties from all sides, including civilians:
9,400–20,000 killed, 4,000 missing, 50,000 injured
(other estimates: see Casualties of the Libyan civil war, here)
- **notes**: *****Large number of loyalist or immigrant civilians, not military personnel, among those captured by rebels, only an estimated minimum of 1,692+ confirmed as soldiers