Brigade 93 | |
---|---|
Leaders | Salem al-Ouaer |
Dates of operation | January 2012 – Fall of 2012 |
Group(s) | Warfalla |
Headquarters | Bani Walid |
Active regions | Libya |
Ideology | Gaddafi loyalism |
Allies | Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |
Opponents | Anti-Gaddafi forces |
Battles and wars | Post-civil war violence in Libya |
Brigade 93 is one of many militias that formed in the wake of the Libyan Civil War. It is based in Bani Walid, a former stronghold of the Gaddafi regime. [1] The militia is mainly composed of those still loyal to Gaddafi. [2]
The brigade is named after the 1993 attempted coup against Gaddafi by members of the Warfalla tribe. Salem al-Ouaer, a member of the Warfalla tribe who sided with Gaddafi during the coup, is believed to head the militia.
In January 2012, the brigade was involved in the green-revolution in Bani Walid. On 25 of January, their unexpected uprising led to the retreat of the NTC forces from Bani Walid. [3]
The brigade was said to possess heavy weapons, including 106 mm anti-tank guns. [4]
When they took over the May 28 Brigade base, they took heavy equipment, most notably tanks. [5] In this video filmed after the takeover of the base by AFP, at least 4 tanks and a Grad rocket launcher are seen among the equipment captured by the Brigade 93. [6]
Bani Walid is a city in Libya located in the Misrata District. Prior to 2007, it was the capital of Sof-Aljeen District. Bani Walid has an airport. Under the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, it was divided into two Basic People's Congresses: Dahra – Bani Walid, and Zaytouna – Bani Walid.
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