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Libya Shield Force | |
---|---|
قوة درع ليبيا | |
Dates of operation | 2012–present |
Ideology | Islamism Salafism Islamic fundamentalism |
Allies | Fajr Libya militia [1] Government of National Accord |
Battles and wars | Libyan Crisis |
The Libya Shield Force is an armed organisation formed in 2012 out of anti-Gaddafi armed groups spread throughout Libya. The Libyan parliament designated much of the Libya Shield Force as terrorist and elements of the Libya Shield Force were identified as linked to al-Qaeda as early as 2012. [2] [3]
Since the outbreak of the Second Libyan Civil War, the Libya Shield Force has been associated with the Islamic fundamentalist side. In 2019, it reportedly aided the Government of National Accord in defending Tripoli from an LNA offensive. [4]
The major branches of the Libya Shield Force fighting for Islamists in the current conflict are:
The Libyan Ministry of Defense, under decision No. 29, formed and named Libya Shield Forces on March 8, 2012. Decision No. 29 states, "A brigade shall be formed in the Central Region of Libya and is to be called Libya Shield – The forces of the Central Brigade shall consist, in general, of rebels from the following regions, Misrata, Sirte, Jafra, Bani Walid, Terhuna, Alkhmuss, Mslath and Zliten. Colonel Mohammed Ibrahim Moussa shall be the commander of the brigade and shall be stationed in Misrata." This decision was signed by the Minister of Defense, Osama Abdulsalam Aljuli. Thus, the name Libya Shield Forces was first coined by the Libyan Minister of Defense.[ citation needed ]
The group began its armed activity in 2012, it was not until the following year that they increased their armed activity. [9] [10] On April 14, 2014, assailants opened fire on the convoy of Fawaz al-Etan, Jordanian ambassador to Libya, in the Mansour neighborhood of the city of Tripoli, Tripoli district. Al-Etan, the Jordanian ambassador, was kidnapped and his driver was injured in the attack. Al-Etan was released on May 13, 2014. No group claimed responsibility for the incident; however, sources attributed the kidnapping to the Libyan Shield Force. [11] [12]
In July 13, members of the Zintan Militia members stationed at Tripoli International Airport were attacked, killing six people were killed and 25 others were wounded result of the subsequent clashes. [13] [14] [15] Days later, two suicide bombers detonated explosive-laden vehicles at an Al-Saiqa Special Forces base in the city of Benghazi. The first bomber detonated at the base entrance, allowing the second bomber to detonate his explosives inside the base immediately after the first explosion. In addition to the two attackers, six members of the Saiqa Forces were killed and two others injured in the attack. No group claimed responsibility for the incident; however, sources attributed the attack to Ansar al-Sharia (Libya) and the Libyan Shield 1. [16] [17]
On August 1, an explosive charge detonated near a police building in Benghazi, leaving only property damage, [18] [19] days later another similar attack would be recorded in Benghazi, also causing material damage. In the days that followed, attacks would continue, which some sources would point out were the work of the Libyan Shield Force. [20] [21] Two suicide bombers detonated explosive-laden cars at a Haftar militia checkpoint near the airport in the city of Benghazi. In addition to the attackers, more than 10 soldiers were killed and 52 others injured by the blast. This was one of two coordinated attacks against the militia in the area that day. The Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries claimed responsibility for the incident in coordination with the Ansar al Sharia and the Libyan Shield Forces. [22] [23] [24]
The Libyan Air Force is the branch of the Libyan Armed Forces responsible for aerial warfare. In 2010, before the Libyan Civil War, the Libyan Air Force personnel strength was estimated at 18,000, with an inventory of 374 combat-capable aircraft operating from 13 military airbases in Libya. Since the 2011 civil war and the ongoing conflict, multiple factions fighting in Libya have been in possession of military aircraft. As of 2019, the Libyan Air Force is nominally under the control of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord in Tripoli, though the rival Libyan National Army of Marshal Khalifa Haftar also has a significant air force. In 2021, the air force was under command of the new President of Libya, Mohamed al-Menfi that replaced Fayez al-Sarraj.
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The Siege of Bani Walid was a military conflict in Libya.
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The Libyan Special Forces (LSF), also known as the Al-Saiqa or Saiqa Special Forces and simply Saiqa or Al-Saiqa, are an elite Libyan National Army unit formed from a mixture of paratroopers, paramilitary forces and commandos. Prominent LSF commander Mahmoud al-Werfalli was indicted in 2017 and 2018 by the International Criminal Court for the war crime of murdering and ordering the murders of non-combatants, and was assassinated in 2021.
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State of Libya Al Radaa For Countering Terrorism & Organized Crime. is a Madkhali radical Islamist special operations military police unit formed in Tripoli Libya for the purpose of tackling crime. It is also known as RADA Special Deterrence Forces, or commonly, "RADA". Its focus is high-profile kidnappings, murders, drug and alcohol poisoning related deaths, illegal migrant smuggling, weapons smuggling, explosives smuggling, terrorist attacks and plots. A lack of political power and police presence in Tripoli provoked the founding of this special unit.
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