Battle of Bayda

Last updated

Battle of Bayda
Part of First Libyan Civil War
Date16–17 February 2011
Location
Bayda, Libya
Result Anti-Gaddafi victory
Belligerents
Flag of Libya.svg Anti-Gaddafi forces Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Strength
Unknown 400 mercenaries
Casualties and losses
150 killed 50 killed

The Battle of Bayda was the first conflict [1] [2] that broke out during the First Libyan Civil War between the brigades of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and the Libyan rebels in the 4th-largest city in the country, the city of Bayda and its suburbs. [3] The battle took place as a result of the demonstrations calling for the fall of the regime in Bayda, and after that the demonstrators clashed with the internal security in the city and the Talaa Khamis Brigade and the mercenaries and the Hussein Al-Jouifi Brigade stationed in Shahhat and Al Abraq International Airport in Bayda. The fighting continued one day in Bayda and the city was liberated, and then the Libyan revolutionaries headed to the outskirts of the city in Shahhat and Al-Abraq Airport. The revolutionaries were able to control the city and its suburbs, and thus Bayda was the first city to break out of Gaddafi's control and remained under their control throughout the revolution.

Contents

Confrontations between the rebels and the Libyan Army in Bayda. Confrontation between rebels and al-Gaddafi in Al Bayda (Libya, 2011-02-17).jpg
Confrontations between the rebels and the Libyan Army in Bayda.

Background

The first spark of a peaceful popular revolution erupted in Libya for the first time to demand the overthrow of the regime at the Al-Talhi junction, which is now known as Al-Sharara Junction in Bayda city on 16 February, similar to the Arab revolutions that existed at the time, and then the demonstrators headed to the city center and there was a match that day between the Al-Akhdar Al-Libi Club and the Sudanese Al-Merrikh Club; after the match, the crowd rallied with the demonstrators, and the demonstration became huge [4] [5] [6] [7] so the Internal Security and the Revolutionary Committees' Hussein al-Jouifi Brigade and the Khamis Brigade, located in al-Bayda and Shahat, suppressed the demonstrations, and massacres were committed in Bayda, where live ammunition was sprayed. At the demonstrations on Al Oroba Street and the Hospital Street and city squares, [8] [9] the situation got out of hand in Bayda and pushed the Libyan citizens to attack the Internal Security Agency, Al-Abraq Airport, the Hussein Al-Jouifi Brigade, and the remnants of the mercenaries. On 18 February, the rebels managed to seize the battalion, the airport and some of the planes that landed in it, and destroy the airport runways. [10] Civilians in Bayda seized the weapons they found at the battalion headquarters. Later, on 21 February of the same year, Gaddafi's brigades attacked the airport to try to recapture it from the rebels, but they succeeded in shooting down the first helicopter in the conflict between the rebels and the Gaddafi brigades, and they formed popular committees to protect it. [11] After the liberation of Bayda, other Libyan cities were liberated from the grip of Gaddafi, and Derna, Zintan, Tobruk and Al-Marj were liberated. And Ajdabiya, Benghazi, Zawiya, Zuwara, Misrata and others, until the entire eastern half of Libya, was within a few days, outside Gaddafi's control.

The importance of Bayda

Bayda is the fourth largest city in the country and the second largest city in the eastern region after Benghazi and the largest city in Jabal al Akhdar, where there is a military airport, in addition to the Hussein Al-Jouifi Brigade located in Shahhat, and in the south of the city there are major weapons stores, "Al-Mashlal stores." It also includes many departments such as the Main Department of the National Commercial Bank and others.

Battle

The Internal Security Agency and the Khamis and Hussein Brigade, or known as Gaddafi's Al-Jarih Al-Jouifi Brigade, opened fire on the demonstrators in the city. There, the first three people of the Libyan revolution were killed on Wednesday, 16 February, and the first of them was “Saad Hamad Al-Yamani,” who was 21 years old. [12] The Director of Security of the Jebel al-Akhdar area Brigadier Hassan Al - Qaradawi was sacked from his post Thursday morning and replaced with Colonel Faraj Barasi. [13] Thursday, 17 February was the first appearance of mercenaries in Libya in Casablanca on Al-Orouba Street. [14] The followers of Gaddafi numbered about 400 mercenaries. [15] After that, the situation worsened in the city and massacres took place and the local security (Relief, Central Support) joined the demonstrators. [16] They attacked civilians at the Security Directorate and a training headquarters for the army and the civilians obtained weapons to defend themselves [17] and on the evening of 17 February, the city of Bayda became liberated, and after that the revolutionaries headed with weapons to the Hussein Al-Juwaihi Bashhat Brigade, where the mercenaries were stationed, [18] liberating the battalion and the military and civilian airport.

The palace of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi and the family of Safia Farkash, Muammar Gaddafi's wife, who was in the city of Al-Bayda, were also stormed and completely destroyed by the rebels. They found books on magic and Talmud [19] and secret trenches with a nuclear bomb shelter in the house. The battle ended with the victory of the revolutionaries over Gaddafi's forces, and thus the city of Bayda became the first city under the control of the revolutionaries and remained under their control throughout the revolution. The number of missing people in the city reached fifty or more people, and it was reported that the number of dead reached 150 of the revolutionaries and 50 of the Gaddafi Brigades. 18 civilians and 63 soldiers were killed in the battle. [2] [20] [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayda, Libya</span> City in Cyrenaica, Libya

Bayda, or Elbeida ( or ; Arabic: البيضاء al-Bayḍāʾ ), is a commercial and industrial city in eastern Libya. It is located in northern Cyrenaica. With a population of 250,000 people, Bayda is the 4th-largest city in Libya. It is the capital city of the Jabal al Akhdar district.

Zawiya, officially Zawia, is a city in northwestern Libya, situated on the Libyan coastline of the Mediterranean Sea about 47 km (29 mi) west of Tripoli, in the historic region of Tripolitania. Zawiya is the capital of the Zawiya District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanis al-Qaddafi</span> Former Prime Minister of Libya (1924–1986)

Wanis al-Qaddafi was a Libyan politician. He held many positions in the era of the Kingdom of Libya and was the tenth Prime Minister of Libya from 4 September 1968 to 31 August 1969, when his government was overthrown by Muammar Gaddafi.

The media of Libya consists of a broad range of newspapers, TV channels, radio stations, and websites mostly set up during or after the Libyan Civil War, which removed previously tight restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of speech. By the summer of 2012, there were over 200 registered newspapers, over 20 TV channels, and 200 radio stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Abraq International Airport</span> Airport in the eastern Libyan city of Bayda

Al Abraq International Airport or Al Bayda International Airport is an airport serving the eastern Libyan city of Bayda. The airport is 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) east of Bayda, and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Libya's Mediterranean coast. The airport is also known as El Beida International Airport or Airport International El Beida la Abraq.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Libya</span> Kingdom in North Africa from 1951 to 1969

The Kingdom of Libya, known as the United Kingdom of Libya from 1951 to 1963, was a constitutional monarchy in North Africa that came into existence upon independence on 24 December 1951 and lasted until a bloodless coup d'état on 1 September 1969. The coup, led by Muammar Gaddafi, overthrew King Idris and established the Libyan Arab Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libya–Serbia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Libya–Serbia relations are diplomatic relations between Libya and Serbia. Libya has an embassy in Belgrade and Serbia has an embassy in Tripoli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Battle of Benghazi</span>

The First Battle of Benghazi occurred as part of the Libyan Civil War between army units and militiamen loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and anti-Gaddafi forces in February 2011. The battle mainly took place in Benghazi, the second-largest city in Libya, with related clashes occurring in the nearby Cyrenaican cities of Bayda and Derna. In Benghazi itself most of the fighting occurred during a siege of the government-controlled Katiba compound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khamis Brigade</span> Military unit

The Khamis Brigade, formally the 32nd Reinforced Brigade of the Armed People, was a regime security brigade of the Libyan Armed Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, the official leader of Libya from 1969 until 2011. The 32nd Brigade was commanded by Gaddafi's youngest son, Khamis Gaddafi and was called "the most well-trained and well-equipped force in the Libyan military" and "the most important military and security elements of the regime" in leaked U.S. memos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Liberation Army (Libya)</span> Libyan military organisation

The National Liberation Army, officially the National Liberation Armed Forces of the Free Libyan Republic, formerly known as the Free Libyan Army, was a Libyan military organisation affiliated with the National Transitional Council, which was constituted during the First Libyan Civil War by defected military members and civilian volunteers, in order to engage in battle against both remaining members of the Libyan Armed Forces and paramilitia loyal to the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. Its self proclaimed chief commander was General Khalifa Haftar, although the National Transitional Council preferred to appoint Major General Abdul Fatah Younes Al-Obeidi as its commander-in-chief. It had prepared for some time in portions of Eastern Libya controlled by the anti-Gaddafi forces for eventual full-on combat in Western Libya against pro-Gaddafi militants, training many men before beginning to go on the offensive. They have battled for control of Benghazi, Misrata, Brega, Ajdabiya, Zawiya and Ra's Lanuf as well as several towns in the Nafusa Mountains. They finally began the Battle for Tripoli in August 2011 when they attacked from the west of the city, as well as fomenting an internal uprising on 20 August.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Network of Free Ulema – Libya</span>

The Network of Free Ulema – Libya is a group of senior religious leaders, or ulama, from all areas of Libya. Due to the persistent's security constraints with families and associates of those opposing Muammar Gaddafi being taken hostage none of the names of members have been released. However, they have been very vocal in the international media throughout the Libyan Civil War, releasing a constant stream of statements, appeals, calls, endorsements, responses and fatwas. Since the liberation of Libya the Network of Free Ulema have formed a larger organization of Libyan religious scholars called the League of Libyan Ulema, headed by Sheikh Umar Abdul Hamid al Mawlud.

Qayqab is a town in the Derna District in northeastern Libya. The town is located on the northeast side of the Akhdar Mountains, south of Al Abraq and Al Abraq Airport and Faydiya lies to the southwest, connected by road.

The Libyan National Democratic Front was a Libyan political opposition organization. The organization was founded in the United States in August 1980, emerging out of the Democratic Libya Committee. The founding meeting elected a Central Committee and adopted the programmes of the organization. The organization coined the phrase "national democratic" which meant protecting the rights of the poor and middle classes, absolute national independence and democratic means of government. Some of its members had a Marxist ideological orientation. Compared to other Libyan opposition groups at the time, the Libyan National Democratic Front had a high degree of ideological and organizational consistency. The organization published the magazine al-Watan on a regular basis. The first issue of al-Watan was issued in September 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the 2011 Libyan Civil War before military intervention</span>

The Libyan Civil War began on 15 February 2011 as a chain of civil protests and later evolved into a widespread uprising against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. On 25 February, most of eastern Libya was reported to be under the control of protesters and rebel forces. Gaddafi remained in control of the cities of Tripoli, Sirte and Sabha. By 15 March, however, Gaddafi's forces had retaken more than half a dozen lost cities. Except for most of Cyrenaica and a few Tripolitania cities the majority of cities had returned to Gaddafi government control.

Safia Farkash Gaddafi is a Libyan businesswoman. She is the widow of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, former First Lady of Libya and Representative of Sirte, and mother of seven of Gaddafi's eight biological children, some of whom participated in their family's regime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaddafi loyalism</span> Sympathetic sentiment towards the overthrown government of Muammar Gaddafi

Gaddafi loyalism, in a wider political and social sense also known as the Green resistance, consists of sympathetic sentiment towards the overthrown government of Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed in October 2011, and his Third International Theory. Despite Muammar Gaddafi's death, his legacy and Jamahiriya ideology still maintains a popular appeal both inside and outside Libya into the present day. Regardless, the Western sentiment has largely been that this continued support may contribute to some of the ongoing violence in Libya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Popular Front for the Liberation of Libya</span> Political party in Libya

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Libya is a Gaddafi loyalist militia and political party that aims to elect Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, as president of Libya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1993 Libyan coup d'état attempt</span>

The 1993 coup d'état was a failed military coup initiated by the Warfalla senior military officers against Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi on 22 October 1993. The coup was led by Khalifa Haftar, a leading senior officer in the Libyan Army who later defected during the coup. The result was the execution of many senior officers and the installment of loyal members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 Sudanese coup attempt</span> Attempted military coup détat in Sudan

In early 1972, Gaafar Nimeiry visited Saudi Arabia and engaged in dialogue with Sharif Hussein al-Hindi, the opposition leader, at the request of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. The dialogue revolved around addressing past grievances and the political landscape. Nimeiry attributed past massacres to communists while Sharif criticised Nimeiry's regime. Offers and suggestions were exchanged, including Nimeiry proposing the Vice Presidency to Sharif, but no agreement was reached. Disappointed with the outcome, Sharif planned an attack on Khartoum with Libyan support.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Ghiran Brigade</span>

The Al-Ghiran Brigade(s), originating from Misrata, was a brigade formed with the purpose of safeguarding the Al-Ghiran region against pro-Gaddafi factions during the battle of Misrata. This brigade is known for being the one to capture Muammar Gaddafi, and eventually killing him after 8 months of fighting.

References

  1. ↑ عبد الفتاح يونس.. مقتله لم يسقط الراية... أخبار البشير، تاريخ النشر 8 September 2011. Archived 2011-11-24 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 مقتل القذافي.. نهاية محتومة لطاغية كان يريد أن يحرق ليبيا بأكملها, Al-Ahram. تاريخ النشر: 20 October 2011. تاريخ الولوج 21 October 2011. "مقتل القذافي .. نهاية محتومة لطاغية كان يريد أن يحرق ليبيا بأكملها - بوابة الأهرام". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ↑ عبد الفتاح يونس من مقرب للقذافي إلى قائد للثورة ضده جريدة المدى، تاريخ النشر: 30 July 2011. Archived 2020-01-09 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ عبد الجليل: الثورة اندلعت بعد مباراة المريخ والأخضر صحيفة الأهرام اليوم. تاريخ النشر والولوج 1 November 2011. Archived 6 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ قراءة في التجربة الليبية - 5 / ليلة سقوط العقيد! كتابات، د. محمد فلحي، تاريخ النشر: 21 October 2011. Archived 24 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ ' يسلّح نقدا ' وجد تحت جسر ساحة المعركة الليبي... Times Of Oman تاريخ النشر : 13 September 2011 Archived 9 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ أنباء عن ثلاثة قتلى بمظاهرات ليبيا Al-Jazeera،تاريخ النشر: 16 February 2011. Archived 19 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ حركة شباب 17 فبراير... صوت الطليعة، تاريخ النشر: 18 February 2011. access-date 2 November 2020. Archived 9 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ هل حكم القذافي في طريقه إلى الانهيار؟ BBC Arabic،تاريخ النشر: 22 February 2011. access-date 4 October 2011. Archived 29 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ ليبيا.. سقوط مدن بأيدي المنتفضين وأخرى تترنح Radio Netherlands. تاريخ النشر 18 February 2011. access-date 7 October 2011. Archived 21 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ الثوار يسيطرون على كل المطارات والقواعد في شرق ليبيا الفارسية نت، تاريخ النشر 21 February 2011. تاريخ الولوج 1 October 2011. Archived 2011-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ أنباء عن ثلاثة قتلى بمظاهرات ليبيا... Al Jazeera. 16 February 2011. Archived 7 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ قتلى إثر اشتباكات في ليبيا وإقالة مسئول أمني محلي صحيفة الوسط البحرينية، date: 18 February 2011. access-date: 5 October 2011. Archived 2015-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ حمد وصالح والقذافي بين شبح مبارك صحيفة السبيل الأردنية، تاريخ النشر: 11 April 2011. [ dead link ] Archived 2020-03-09 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ معركة البيضاء Der Spiegel. تاريخ النشر:26/2/2011م. Archived 2012-05-23 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ كتيبة أمنية تابعة لابن القذافي تقمع المتظاهرين... صحيفة ليبيا اليوم. 18 February 2011م.Archived 2020-03-08 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ↑ القذافي يقصف المحتجين بالأسلحة... Ennahar newspaper، تاريخ النشر:18/2/2011م. Archived 2011-08-28 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ انقسام في كتيبة الجارح... صحيفة ليبيا اليوم. 18 February 2011م. Archived 2012-03-07 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ كتب خاصة بالسحر والشعوذة عثر عليها داخل قصر القذافي صوت الطليعة، تاريخ النشر: 25 February 2011. Archived 2020-03-09 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ↑ كلينتون: كل شيء مطروح لإنهاء العنف في ليبيا صحيفة الوسط البحرينية، تاريخ النشر: 24 February 2011. تاريخ الولوج 5 October 2011. Archived 2015-08-09 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ ثورة ليبيا وما أكثر جنودها المجهولين Dostor،access-date: 18 March 2011. Archived 29 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine

32°45′59″N21°44′30″E / 32.76639°N 21.74167°E / 32.76639; 21.74167

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.