First Battle of Brega

Last updated
First Battle of Brega
Part of Libyan Civil War
Victory in the desert - Flickr - Al Jazeera English (1).jpg
Anti-Gaddafi rebels in Brega
Date2 March 2011
Location
Brega, Libya
Result

Anti-Gaddafi victory [1]

  • Pro-Gaddafi forces fail to recapture Brega
Belligerents

Flag of Libya (1951-1969).svg Anti-Gaddafi forces

Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg Armed forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Libya (1951-1969).svg Bashir Abdel-Qader [2]
Flag of Libya (1951-1969).svg Khaled Kowati [3] 		Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg Muammar Gaddafi
Strength
300-350 combatants
One tank
Dozens of technicals 		200-400 combatants
Two fighter jets
50 technicals
120mm artillery
Casualties and losses
14 killed [4]
12 captured [5]
28 wounded [6] 		2 [2] -10 killed
4 captured
1 F1 shot down [3]

The First Battle of Brega [7] was fought during the Libyan Civil War. It began when pro-Gaddafi government troops attacked the city, held by the National Transitional Council, in the early hours of 2 March 2011.

Contents

The battle

In the early hours of 2 March, well-armed pro-Gaddafi government forces arrived at Brega in over 100 vehicles. They succeeded in wresting control of the oil refinery, port, terminal and industry airport, as well as the town university. [8] Coming within 2–3 kilometers (1.2–1.9 miles) of the town center, the pro-Gaddafi forces managed to pin down rebel forces. [9] According to a number of news sources, the rebels were rushed to mobilization and hid in the sand for camouflage. Most were volunteers from the rebel-controlled cities of Ajdabiya and Benghazi. [8] [9]

As the attack was underway, Libyan Air Force pilots loyal to Gaddafi bombed a munitions depot at Ajdabiya. However, after a few hours, rebel reinforcements from Ajdabiya arrived in Brega and pushed back pro-Gaddafi fighters to the university campus where they came under siege. Moving along the coast, rebel fighters charged over the sand dunes on the beach up the hill to the university building, while under constant mortar fire. At one point, a warplane attacked the dunes in an attempt to disperse the rebels, but it caused no casualties, and the siege continued. According to the rebels, the pro-Gaddafi forces at the university used civilians as human shields. Government troops eventually withdrew from the university and out of the city some 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the west. [9] A senior rebel officer stated pro-Gaddafi troops might have run out of ammunition and as such were forced to withdraw. [8]

It was reported that women and children were dragged out of their cars on the Tripoli-Benghazi road by the pro-Gaddafi forces and used as human shields. [9]

The government force retreated to Ra's Lanuf, about 120 km west of Brega, after the battle. [4]

Aftermath

At least 14 people were initially reported killed in the fighting, although some estimates were as low as five dead. [10] Reporters who came in from the Benghazi area saw four dead, two of which were apparently pro-Gaddafi fighters. [2] At least 14 opposition fighters were later reported killed and 28 others wounded. Eight of those killed were former oil workers. [11] The rebels claimed that they had killed 10 loyalist soldiers and captured several others. [12]

The assault on the Brega oil port was the first major regime counter-offensive against the opposition-held eastern half of Libya, where the population, backed by mutinous army units, rose up and drove out Gaddafi's rule during the first few days of the uprising. [13] The offensive came while Gaddafi warned opposition forces that he would fight "until the last man and woman". Following the battle, celebrations were held by rebel fighters and residents in Brega and Ajdabiya. According to BBC correspondent John Simpson, the rebels were "very proud" and the general feeling in Brega was that Gaddafi's troops "do not necessarily have their hearts in the job." [8]

On 3 March, pro-Gaddafi jets bombed the area between the oil refinery and the residential zone in Brega, rebels also reported an air raid against positions in Ajdabiya. [14] [15] Analysts believe the Battle of Brega indicates that either side may prove unable to definitely defeat the other. [14] ' On 4 March, anti-Gaddafi fighters launched an attack against Ra's Lanuf. On 6 March the rebel advance was stopped in the battle of Bin Jawad and government forces recaptured Ra's Lanuf on 10 March. [16] [17] Anti-Gaddafi fighters were reported to have been advising civilians to leave the area around Brega in expectation of a second battle. [18] The Second Battle of Brega was fought on 13 March and by the morning of 14 March, rebel forces were holding the residential district and loyalist forces were holding the oil facilities.[ citation needed ] The next day, the town fell to the loyalists.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sirte</span> Place in Tripolitania, Libya

Sirte, also spelled Sirt, Surt, Sert or Syrte, is a city in Libya. It is located south of the Gulf of Sirte, almost right in the middle between Tripoli and Benghazi. It is famously known for its battles, ethnic groups and loyalty to former Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi. Due to developments in the First Libyan Civil War, it was briefly the capital of Libya as Tripoli's successor after the Fall of Tripoli from 1 September to 20 October 2011. The settlement was established in the early 20th century by the Italians, at the site of a 19th-century fortress built by the Ottomans. It grew into a city after World War II.

Brega, also known as Mersa Brega or Marsa al-Brega, is a complex of several smaller towns, industry installations and education establishments situated in Libya on the Gulf of Sidra, the most southerly point of the Mediterranean Sea. It is located in the former Ajdabiya District, which in 2007 was merged into the Al Wahat District. The town is the center of Libya's second-largest hydro-carbon complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the 2011 Libyan Civil War and military intervention (16 August – 23 October)</span>

The Libyan Civil War began on 17 February 2011 as a civil protest and later evolved into a widespread uprising. By mid-August, anti-Gaddafi forces effectively supported by a NATO-led international coalition were ascendant in Tripolitania, breaking out of the restive Nafusa Mountains in the south to mount an offensive toward the coast and advancing from Misrata on loyalist-held cities and villages from the north and east.

<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.

The Battle of Ras Lanuf was a two-phase battle in early to mid-March 2011 during the Libyan Civil War between forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and those loyal to the National Transitional Council. Both forces sought control of the town of Ras Lanuf. The first phase of confrontation followed two days after the First Battle of Brega which occurred in the town Brega, roughly 130 kilometres (81 mi) to the east of Ras Lanuf. After conquering the town on 4 March, the rebels pushed further west to attack Sirte but they were driven back by government forces and on 11 March, government troops reconquered most of Ras Lanuf.

The Second Battle of Brega took place during the Libyan Civil War. Eleven days earlier, anti-Gaddafi forces had beaten back an attempt by loyalist forces to take the town on 2 March 2011, in the First Battle of Brega. Following that battle, rebel forces advanced along the Libyan Coastal Highway, taking the towns of Ra's Lanuf and Bin Jawad. However, after the Battle of Bin Jawad and the Battle of Ra's Lanuf, government troops retook all of the lost territory and were once again threatening Brega by mid-March.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Battle of Benghazi</span> 2011 battle of the Libyan Civil War

The Second Battle of Benghazi was fought between army units and militiamen loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and anti-Gaddafi forces in Benghazi on 19-20 March 2011 during the Libyan Civil War. The battle marked the start of a United Nations-mandated military intervention in the conflict, with fighter jets from the French Air Force attacking and destroying several pro-Gaddafi units, forcing them to retreat.

The Third Battle of Brega was fought during the Libyan Civil War between government forces and anti-Gaddafi forces for control of the town of Brega and its surroundings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Gulf of Sidra offensive</span>

The First Gulf of Sidra offensive was the second major rebel offensive of the Libyan Civil War. It was mounted by anti-Gaddafi forces immediately after their victory in the Battle of Ajdabiya. The offensive was meant to have the rebel forces quickly reach Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte.

The Battle of Bin Jawad took place in early March 2011 during the Libyan Civil War between forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and anti-Gaddafi forces for control of the town of Bin Jawad.

The Fourth Battle of Brega was a battle in July and August 2011, during the Libyan Civil War, between forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi and forces of the Libyan opposition for control of the strategic town of Brega and its oil port.

The Battle of Brega–Ajdabiya road was a battle during the Libyan Civil War between forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and anti-Gaddafi forces for control of the towns of Brega and Ajdabiya respectively and the Libyan Coastal Highway between them.

The Battle of Ajdabiya was an armed battle in and near the city of Ajdabiya that took place as part of the Libyan Civil War. It was fought between anti-government rebels and military forces loyal to the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Following the Second Battle of Brega, in which pro-Gaddafi forces captured the town, Ajdabiya was the only major rebel-held city left en route to the rebel capital of Benghazi. The battle for Ajdabiya had been cited as a potential turning point in the conflict on which the fate of the whole rebellion against the Gaddafi government may be decided. On 26 March 2011, Libyan rebels, backed by extensive allied air raids, seized control of the frontline oil town of Ajdabiya from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's forces. During the first phase of the battle, pro-Gaddafi forces seized the strategic road junction leading to Benghazi and Tobruk, and captured most of the city. The city centre remained in rebel hands but was surrounded by pro-government forces and cut off from outside assistance. After the second phase, anti-Gaddafi forces recaptured the road junction and cleared loyalist forces from the city, sending them retreating down the Libyan Coastal Highway towards Sirte.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the Libyan civil war (2011)</span>

The timeline of the Libyan civil war begins on 15 February 2011 and ends on 20 October 2011. The conflict began with a series of peaceful protests, similar to others of the Arab Spring, later becoming a full-scale civil war between the forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi's government and the anti-Gaddafi forces. The conflict can roughly be divided into two periods before and after external military intervention authorized by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the 2011 Libyan Civil War and military intervention (19 March – May)</span>

The Libyan Civil War began on 15 February 2011 as a civil protest and later evolved into a widespread uprising. However, by 19 March, Libyan forces under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi were on the brink of a decisive victory over rebels in Libya's east. That day, leading NATO members acted on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 which authorized member states "to take all necessary measures... to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding an occupation force".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Gulf of Sidra offensive</span>

The Second Gulf of Sidra offensive was a military operation in the First Libyan Civil War conducted by rebel anti-Gaddafi forces in August and September 2011 to take control of towns along the Gulf of Sidra in an effort to surround Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, which was held by pro-Gaddafi forces. The offensive ended on 20 October, with the capture and execution of Muammar Gaddafi and his son Mutassim Gaddafi, along with former defense minister Abu-Bakr Yunis Jabr. The Gaddafi loyalists in the area were finally defeated when NTC fighters captured Sirte.

The raid onRas Lanuf was a hit-and-run attack carried out in the early morning of 12 September 2011 by two groups of fighters loyal to Muammar Gaddafi in an apparently coordinated effort to disrupt oil refinery and export operations in the National Transitional Council-administered port town of Ra's Lanuf, Libya, during the Libyan Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the 2011 Libyan Civil War and military intervention (June – 15 August)</span>

The 2011 Libyan Civil War began on 17 February 2011 as a civil protest and later evolved into a widespread uprising. After a military intervention led by France, the United Kingdom, and the United States on 19 March turned the tide of the conflict at the Second Battle of Benghazi, anti-Gaddafi forces regrouped and established control over Misrata and most of the Nafusa Mountains in Tripolitania and much of the eastern region of Cyrenaica. In mid-May, they finally broke an extended siege of Misrata.

References

  1. ↑ Schemm, Paul (2 March 2011). "Libya Rebels Rout Gaddafi Forces In Fierce Battle For Oil Port". The Huffington Post. Brega. Associated Press. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Live Blog - Libya March 2 | Al Jazeera Blogs". Al Jazeera. 1 March 2011. Archived from the original on 8 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  3. 1 2 Potter, Mitch (2 March 2011). "The Star in Libya: Rebels quash Gadhafi raid". The Toronto Star. Brega. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  4. 1 2 Simpson, John (3 March 2011). "Libya revolt: Rebels say no talks unless Gaddafi goes". BBC News . Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  5. ↑ Sengupta, Kim (3 March 2011). "Gaddafi's men poised to strike at Benghazi". The Independent. El Agheila. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  6. ↑ Dehghanpisheh, Babak (4 March 2011). "Inside Libya's Rebel Movement". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  7. ↑ Hill, Evan (3 March 2011). "The battle for Brega". Al Jazeera. Brega. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Libya revolt: Rebels mark 'victory' after Brega battle". BBC News. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Bloomfield, Adrian (2 March 2011). "Libya: rebels in desperate battle to hold ground". The Telegraph. Brega.
  10. ↑ "Gadhafi steps up massacre". The Daily Star. 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  11. ↑ Koutsoukis, Jason (3 March 2011). "Gaddafi's forces unleashed on rebels". The Sydney Morning Herald. Ajdabiya. Reuters. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  12. ↑ Schemm, Paul (5 March 2011). "Rebels reinforce key Libyan oil port". Sydney Morning Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  13. ↑ Stanglin, Douglas (2 March 2011). "Libyan rebels fend off government attack on eastern oil port". USA Today. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  14. 1 2 Marcus, Jonathan (3 March 2011). "Libya stalemate presents diplomatic challenges". BBC News. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  15. ↑ "Funerals held for Libyan rebels". Al Jazeera. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  16. ↑ "Gaddafi loyalists launch offensive". Al Jazeera. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  17. ↑ Hill, Evan (10 March 2011). "Rebel push stalls outside Ras Lanuf". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  18. ↑ Wedeman, Ben (10 March 2011). "Anti-Qaddafi forces advising civilians (...)". CNN. Retrieved 10 March 2011.

30°26′6″N19°40′1″E / 30.43500°N 19.66694°E / 30.43500; 19.66694

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.