First Battle of Zawiya

The First Battle of Zawiya or Zawia was a battle during the Libyan Civil War between army units and militiamen loyal to Muammar Gaddafi and anti-Gaddafi forces for control of the city of Zawia.

First Battle of Zawiya
Part of Libyan Civil War
Date24 February – 9/10 March 2011
Location
Result

Decisive pro-Gaddafi victory[1]

  • City retaken by loyalist forces
Belligerents

Libya Anti-Gaddafi forces

Libya Armed forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Commanders and leaders
Libya Hussein Darbouk [2] Libya Khamis Gaddafi
Libya Khouildi Hamidi[3]
Libya Mahdi al-Arabi[4]
Libya Muftah Anaqrat [5]
Libya Mohamed Gayth [5]
Strength
300–400[6] Khamis Brigade[7]
Hosban Brigade[8]
Casualties and losses
235[9]–600[10] killed**
300+ wounded[11]
37 captured[12]
up to 50 tanks, APCs and 2S1 Gvozdika howitzers destroyed or captured
65 killed
50 wounded[13]
29–31 captured[14]
4+ T-72 tanks or BMPs destroyed
1 Shilka destroyed[15]
*Unconfirmed rebel claims
**At least 151 of those killed were rebels, possibly more, while the rest were civilians.[16]

The city quickly fell into rebels hands with soldiers from Libyan Army units defecting. Zawia was the rebel city which was closest to Tripoli, and its control became the main focus of Gaddafi troops. The city was besieged and regularly attacked by loyalists with rebels defending the center of the town. The final assault lasted one week and was led by the Khamis Brigade, the best trained unit of the Libyan army. The rebellion was ultimately crushed in the city and Gaddafi troops took complete control of the town, searching for suspected rebels and erasing any sign of the rebellion.

Along with the Battle of Misrata, the First Battle of Zawiya was one of the bloodiest clashes of the Libyan Civil War.

The battle

edit

Rebels take control, initial loyalist counterattacks

edit
24 February – 1 March

The battle began on 24 February, when Libyan troops loyal to Gaddafi attacked a mosque where protesters were holding an anti-government sit-in. The troops opened fire with automatic weapons and hit the minaret with an anti-aircraft gun. After the attack, thousands of people rallied in Green Square by the mosque shouting "Leave! Leave!"[17] On the same day, anti-Gaddafi forces repelled the attack on the city.[18]

On 26 February, government forces opened fire on anti-government protesters and Egyptian migrant workers. By this point, most of the city was under rebel control — however, security forces controlled surrounding areas and had set up checkpoints on the outskirts. In addition, some government militia and security forces were still present in the city and at least one tank was seen.[19] 24 rebel fighters were killed during the two previous days of fighting.[20]

On 28 February, government troops conducted a counter-attack against the city with 200 soldiers coming in from the east, supported by snipers, tanks and artillery. The first attack came just after midnight when loyalist soldiers tried to come through the eastern city gate in pick-up trucks. The attack was repelled. In the early evening, a second attack by fighters in three more trucks tried to break through the west gate. Two of the trucks were destroyed. At the same time, six more pick-ups again attacked the eastern gate. Two were captured by rebel forces. During the clashes one government tank was damaged by a rocket propelled grenade. After six hours of fighting, government troops were unable to reclaim the city. 10 soldiers were killed in the street fighting and 12–14 were captured, of which eight switched sides and joined the rebels.[21][22]

Continued loyalist gains, Darbouk killed

edit
2 March – 4 March

On the night of 2 March, rebel forces attacked government lines around the city killing two loyalist soldiers. By this point, shortages of food and medical supplies in the city had started as a result of the siege.[23]

On 4 March, government troops attacked once again bombarding the rebels with mortars, heavy machine guns, anti-aircraft guns and a prolonged artillery barrage coming from at least eight Grad missile launchers.[24] Troops attacked on both sides of the city. In the initial fighting, the rebel forces commander, colonel Hussein Darbouk, was killed along with three more fighters.[25] Later, the casualty toll was raised to "up to 50 dead"[26] and 300 wounded on that day.[27] Two government soldiers were also killed.[28] In the evening, the rebels were pushed back to the central square in Zawiya, where they were preparing to make a last stand.[29] Government forces claimed to have captured 31 tanks, 19 armored personnel carriers and other weapons including rocket-launchers and anti-aircraft guns that were used by the rebels.[30]

Fighting for central square, intensifying loyalist assaults

edit
5 March – 8 March

By the morning of 5 March, pro-Gaddafi soldiers were reported to have been beaten back from the centre of the city, after overnight fighting, however they still controlled the town's entry points. At six in the morning, another assault was underway, which started with a surprise barrage of mortar shells.[31] At 7 a.m., at least 20 tanks entered the city and heavy street fighting started with loyalists storming residential buildings and reportedly killing people inside to secure the rooftops for snipers.[32] Initially, the rebels retreated to positions deeper in the city and government tanks were seen pouring onto the square. Still, after a few hours, a rebel counteroffensive was launched and loyalist forces were again beaten back from the centre of the city to the city's edge by 10 a.m.[33] During these morning battles, thirty-three people were reported killed. Twenty-five of them were rebels and eight were pro-Gaddafi soldiers. Five government armored vehicles were destroyed at the square, among them two or three tanks. At 4 p.m., a third pro-Gaddafi attack commenced, accompanied by an artillery barrage, but it too was repulsed. During this attack, government troops positioned themselves once again at the square and tank and rocket fire was directed at buildings around it, before retreating. However, the loyalists managed to secure the hospital and, because of this, the rebels moved all of their wounded to a makeshift clinic at a mosque.[32][34] 10 loyalist soldiers were captured during the fighting and later executed in a hotel at the square.[35] During the night, it was confirmed that government tanks were seen roaming the city.[36]

On 6 March, a fourth attack in two days was launched against the city centre and it too was repelled. 26 government soldiers and three rebels were reportedly killed and 11 soldiers captured during the latest charge by loyalist troops.[37][38]

On 7 March at 9 a.m., a fifth attack started and continued well into the afternoon. Government forces had once again managed to take the city's central square and also a nearby mosque.[39]

By 8 March, most of the city had been left in ruins with tanks firing in all directions. During the night, rebels had once again taken back the square. However, with dawn, the strongest attack yet came with 50 tanks and 120 pick-ups charging towards the city center.[40] During the evening, a force of 60 rebels slipped out of the city in an attempt to attack a military base 20 kilometres from the city. By the next day, they had not returned and their fate was not known.[41]

Loyalists capture the city

edit
9 March – 11 March

On 9 March, the city was reported to be ninety-five percent under loyalist control as rebels retreated from the main square and troops moved in.[42] Later that evening, rebels and a few local witnesses claimed that the rebels had retaken the main square and that the regime's forces were driven back to 1 kilometre (0.62 miles) from the city centre.[43] Forty opposition members and several loyalists were reported killed during the day's fighting, including a general and a colonel.[44] Nine rebels were killed in the battle for the square.[45] The suburbs of the city had been confirmed as cleared and captured by loyalists after the government bussed journalists to a floodlit stadium where some 300 Gaddafi supporters were celebrating with fireworks.[46]

On 10 March, the city was retaken by loyalist forces.[47] Reporters from The Times and the ITV television network reported from the square in Zawiya where they confirmed it was under government control and clean-up operations were underway. Later, locals confirmed that tanks were lined along the square. The mopping-up operations were focused on smaller remaining pockets of resistance and some street fighting continued during the day.[48][49][50]

On 11 March, rebels claimed they were still in control in Zawiya. However, just a few hours later, a pro-Gaddafi rally, arranged by the government, was held in the centre of the city, witnessed by 100 foreign journalists, confirming the city was under loyalist control.[51][52]

Aftermath

edit

By early April 2011, the uprising having been quashed. Thousands of Zawiyans had been taken away for questioning in the last few weeks, according to rebel sources.[53] On 25 April, the Voice of Russia reported that guerrilla attacks had resumed in Zawiya, indicating that the rebels still maintained a presence in the city.[54]

Renewed fighting in the city had occurred on 11 June, with anti-Gaddafi forces launching an attack against the city. A spokesman for the rebels' national council said that the opposition fighters were in control of a large area on the western side of the city. However, there was no independent confirmation of the claim.[55] Later the same day, a Reuters crew confirmed that the coastal road was shut down and deserted, except for a large number of soldiers, police and armed men in civilian clothes. Residents also confirmed that fighting begun during the morning between loyalist forces and rebels and described fighting as "heavy".[56]

However, by late on 12 June, the rebel attack on the city had been defeated and loyalist forces were in firm control, which was confirmed by reporters taken from Tripoli to Zawiya.[57]

In early August, anti-Gaddafi forces launched an offensive into the plains surrounding Zawiya, reaching the city outskirts.[58] On 13 August, it was reported that rebel forces had attempted to advance into Zawiya. Governmental officials claimed that the rebels had been defeated, while rebels claimed that they controlled portions of the city, possibly including the city center.[59] Al Jazeera confirmed that rebels had been fighting within the city suburbs and gates.[60] By 20 August, rebels had taken full control of the city including the eastern parts, which was confirmed by journalists who were taken to former loyalists positions.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Libya Unrest: Entering Zawiya". BBC News. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  2. ^ "Forces Fire Tear Gas as Libya Protesters March". Fox News. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  3. ^ "Libya: NATO Kills 19 Civilians in Air Strike". Al Jazeera English.
  4. ^ [1]. The Guardian.
  5. ^ a b "Democratic Underground – Confirmed: 2 of Gaddafi's Imp. Generals Muftah Anaqrat+Gayth Mohamed Gayth Killed in Zawiya Yesterday". Democratic Underground.
  6. ^ "Gaddafi Gets His Revenge: The Price of Rebellion". Time. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on March 21, 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  7. ^ "Gaddafi Forces Fight on Two Fronts as Opposition Fighters Vow To Take Control in Zawiyah". Sky News. 4 March 2011.
  8. ^ "Zawiyah in Rebel Hands, But Under Siege". News24. 5 March 2011.
  9. ^ 175 killed in the city (24 February – 10 March),[2] 60 killed in out-of-city counterattack (8 March),[3] total of 235 reported deaths
  10. ^ Libya uprising one year on: remembering the Zawiyah massacre - video
  11. ^ "Gaddafi Loaylists Recapture Libya's Zawiyah". 4 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  12. ^ "Libya Forces Try To Halt Rebel Move Toward Capital". Houston Chronicle. 6 March 2011. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  13. ^ "Gaddafi Tanks and Jets Strike Deeper into Rebel Heartland". 10 March 2011.
  14. ^ Government losses – 4 killed,"Sky News Australia - World News Article". Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011. 11 captured [4][permanent dead link] (24–26 February ), 10 killed, 4–6 captured (28 February ),"Sky News Australia - World News Article". Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011. 2 killed (2 March),[5] 2 killed (4 March),[6] 18 killed, 3 captured (5 March),[7][8] Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine[9] 26 killed, 11 captured (6 March),[10] 3 killed (9 March),[11] total of 65 killed and 26–28 reported captured
  15. ^ Kirkpatrick, David D.; Fahim, Kareem (5 March 2011). "In Libya, Both Sides Gird for Long War as Civilian Toll Mounts". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  16. ^ 24 killed in initial battle for the town (24–26 February),[12] 4 killed on the outskirts (4 March),[13] 20 killed at the square (4–5 March),[14] 3 killed at the square (7 March),[15] 60 killed in out-of-city counterattack (8 March),[16] 40 killed at the square (9–10 March),[17] Archived 2011-03-12 at the Wayback Machine[18] total of 151 reported killed
  17. ^ "Gadhafi Compares Himself to Queen Elizabeth, Says Libya's Youth Are on Hallucinogens". ABC News. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  18. ^ [19]. ABC News.
  19. ^ "Gadhafi Forces Strike Back at Libya Uprising". Human Rights Watch. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  20. ^ "Rebels Control Libyan Town of Zawiyah". Reuters. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
  21. ^ "Pro-Gadhafi Forces Hit Back on Land and in Air". The New York Times. 1 March 2011. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  22. ^ "Libyan Rebels Repel Overnight Attack by Pro-Qaddafi Forces". Fox News. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  23. ^ Karam, Souhail (4 March 2011). "Libyan Rebel-Held City on Guard, Fears for Supplies". Reuters. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  24. ^ Chulov, Martin; Beaumont, Peter; Tisdall, Simon (4 March 2011). "Libya: Fierce Day of Raids and Clashes Signals Shift to Civil War". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  25. ^ [dead link] "Forces Fire Tear Gas as Libya Protesters March". Forbes. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on March 24, 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  26. ^ "Libya Unrest: Deadly Clashes in Battle for Zawiya". BBC News. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  27. ^ "Gaddafi Loaylists Recapture Libya's Zawiyah". Novinite. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  28. ^ "Libya: Three Killed and 50 Injured in Zawiyah". The Daily Telegraph. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  29. ^ "At Least 30 Killed in Libya as Gadhafi Forces Fight To Take Back Rebel-Held Town". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  30. ^ "Obama Ups Pressure, Interpol Issues Global Alert on Gaddafi". 4 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  31. ^ "Battle for Libya: Gaddafi Troops Engage Zawiya Rebels". BBC News. 6 March 2011.
  32. ^ a b Golovnina, Maria (5 March 2011). "Gaddafi forces try to retake western Libyan town". Reuters. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  33. ^ "Key wins for both sides in Libya". CBS News. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  34. ^ Hendrix, Steve; Faiola, Anthony; Sockol, Samuel (6 March 2011). "Violence in Libya Sows Fears of Long Civil War". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  35. ^ "Libya forces try to halt rebel move toward capital". The Sun Star. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  36. ^ "Gadhafi's Regime Blasts City Near Tripoli But Eastern Rebels Make a Push Toward Capital". The Republic. Retrieved 5 March 2011.[permanent dead link]
  37. ^ "Fierce Battles Erupt Across Libya". ABC News. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  38. ^ "Libya Revolt As It Happened: Monday". BBC News. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  39. ^ "Libyan Warplanes Strike Rebels at Oil Port, Trying To Block Advance Toward Capital". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  40. ^ "Tanks and Planes Hit Libya Rebels". BBC News. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  41. ^ "Tanks Said Closing In on Rebel-Held Zawiyah Square". Reuters India. Reuters. 9 March 2011. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  42. ^ "Libyans 'Will Fight' No-Fly Zone – Gaddafi". BBC News. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  43. ^ Weisenthal, Joe; Lubin, Gus (9 March 2011). "Civil War: Watch the Rebels Try To Retake Bin Jawad". Business Insider. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  44. ^ Barker, Anne (10 March 2011). "Bloodbath as Gaddafi Forces Move on Rebels". ABC News. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  45. ^ Karouny, Mariam (10 March 2011). "Zawiyah Becomes Ghost Town as Army Ring Tightens". Reuters. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  46. ^ Hendrix, Steve; Sly, Liz; Bahrampour, Tara (10 March 2011). "Rebel-Held Misurata Under Siege as Rebels, Gaddafi Forces Battle in Eastern and Western Libya". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  47. ^ "Libya's Zawiyah Back Under Kadhafi Control: Witness". Google News. Agence France-Presse. 10 March 2011. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  48. ^ "Libya: Gaddafi Forces Push Rebels from Ras Lanuf". BBC News. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  49. ^ "Libya: Gaddafi Loyalists Mount Onslaught". BBC News. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  50. ^ Shadid, Anthony (10 March 2011). "Qaddafi Forces Take Back Strategic Town From Rebels". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  51. ^ "Libya Live Blog – March 11". Al Jazeera. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  52. ^ Georgy, Michael; Golovnina, Maria (11 March 2011). "Rebels Repel Gaddafi Assault on Libya Oil Port". Reuters India. Reuters. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  53. ^ Rugman, Jonathan (6 April 2011). "Gaddafi's Men Try To Obliterate Traces of Massacre in Zawiya". The Independent.
  54. ^ "Gaddafi Troops Encircle Towns in West of Libya" Archived 2011-04-29 at the Wayback Machine. Voice of Russia.
  55. ^ "Libyan Rebels Clash with Gadhafi Forces in Western Oil-Port City of Zawiya"[dead link]. The Canadian Press (via Google News).
  56. ^ "Fighting in Zawiyah Shuts Libya Coast Road – Resident. Reuters.
  57. ^ "Libya's Rebels Claim Resurgence; Government Denies" Archived June 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. MSNBC.
  58. ^ "Libya - Aug 13, 2011 - 00:13 | al Jazeera Blogs". Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2011.. Al Jazeera.
  59. ^ [20]. Reuters.
  60. ^ "Libya - Aug 13, 2011 - 18:51 | al Jazeera Blogs". Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.. Al Jazeera.

32°45′8″N 12°43′40″E / 32.75222°N 12.72778°E / 32.75222; 12.72778