Zawiya skirmish: Difference between revisions

Second Battle of Az Zawiyah
	Part of 2011 Libyan civil war
Date	11 June 2011 – Ongoing
Location	Az Zawiyah, Libya
Result	Ongoing Anti-Gaddafi forces repelled from Zawiyah;
Belligerents
Anti-Gaddafi forces National Liberation Army;	Gaddafi Loyalists Libyan Army; Paramilitary forces;
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Gen. Mahdi al-Arabi
Strength
100 fighters	Munawaba Brigade
Casualties and losses
30 killed; 20 wounded	Unknown number of killed*; 17 captured
	1 civilian killed
	*Rebels claimed 100 loyalist soldiers were killed, but no independent sources confirmed the claim

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Revision as of 22:31, 12 June 2011

The Second Battle of Az Zawiyah is a battle launched by National Liberation Army during the 2011 Libyan civil war against army units and militiamen loyal to Muammar Gaddafi for took control of the city of Az Zawiyah.

Between February and March 2011 there was a major battle for control of this city where the rebels were defeated by the Gaddafi forces.

The Battle

New clashes had restarted by early June, with an anti-Gaddafi uprising within the city. On 11 June, a spokesman for the rebel National Transitional 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.^[9] Later the same day, Reuters 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".^[10]

According to rebel spokesman within the city, 30 rebels were killed and 20 wounded in two days of fighting. The rebels managed to take control of the western side of the city, but the loyalists remained in control of the city center and the eastern side.^[11] Also, there were reports that loyalist forces were receiving reinforcements.^[12] Guma el-Gamaty, United Kingdom based coordinator for the National Transitional Council claimed that rebel fighters in Zawiya are composed of fighters which trained in the Nafusa Mountains while Mussa Ibrahim al-Gaddafi, government spokesman, dismissed most of the claims and insisted that only 20 to 25 rebels guerilla fighters infiltrated the city and were being surrounded.^[13]

By the evening of 12 June, a government spokesman announced that the rebels were defeated at Zawiyah after hours of fighting.^[14] A group of foreign reporters were taken from Tripoli to Zawiyah for confirmation of the loyalist victory. The reporters confirmed that the pro-Gaddafi green flag was flying at the main square, where hours earlier rebels claimed to had surrounded the loyalists and attacking them from three sides, however shooting could be heard near the central square. The government stated that the opposition forces had been pushed out of the city and surrounded on the edge of Zawiyah.^[15] A rebel in the town, however, said that fighting was still taking place within the city.^[16]

The rebels claimed that, during the battle, a loyalist commander, the high-ranking el-Khouwildy el-Ahmeidy, was seriously wounded in a NATO air-strike while he was heading to Zawiyah.^[17]

References

[1] Libya's rebels claim resurgence; government denies

[2] Zawya Hospital aftermath of 11/06/2011 fighting

[3] Battles rage in western Libya flashpoints: rebels

[4] Zawya Hospital aftermath of 11/06/2011 fighting

[5] Libyan forces shell rebel port city in west

[6] Libyan rebels capture 17 Gaddafi's soldiers

[7] Rebels say clashes near Libyan capital kill 13

[8] Al Jazeera Live Blog

[9] Associated Press: Libyan rebels clash with Gadhafi forces in western oil-port city of Zawiya

[10] Fighting in Zawiyah shuts Libya coast road-resident

[11] Libyan forces shell rebel port city in west

[12] Rebels say clashes near Libyan capital kill 13

[13] Libyan rebels battle for key oil port near Tripoli

[14] Libyan government says Zawiyah revolt defeated

[15] Libya's rebels claim resurgence; government denies

[16] Libyan rebels say still fighting near capital

[17] Libya's rebels claim resurgence; government denies

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 According to rebel spokesman within the city, 30 rebels were killed and 20 wounded in two days of fighting. The rebels managed to take control of the western side of the city, but the loyalists remained in control of the city center and the eastern side.<ref>[http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Libyan-forces-shell-rebel-port-city-in-west-1420645.php Libyan forces shell rebel port city in west]</ref> Also, there were reports that loyalist forces were receiving reinforcements.<ref>[http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/rebels-say-clashes-near-libyan-capital-kill-13 Rebels say clashes near Libyan capital kill 13]</ref> Guma el-Gamaty, [[United Kingdom]] based coordinator for the National Transitional Council claimed that rebel fighters in Zawiya are composed of fighters which trained in the [[Nafusa Mountains]] while Mussa Ibrahim al-Gaddafi, government spokesman, dismissed most of the claims and insisted that only 20 to 25 rebels guerilla fighters infiltrated the city and were being surrounded.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/libyan-rebels-battle-for-key-oil-port-near-tripoli/2011/06/11/AGwUcoQH_story.html Libyan rebels battle for key oil port near Tripoli]</ref>
-By the evening of 12 June, a government spokesman announced that the rebels were defeated at Zawiyah after hours of fighting.<ref>[http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE75B0D720110612 Libyan government says Zawiyah revolt defeated]</ref> A group of foreign reporters were taken from Tripoli to Zawiyah for confirmation of the loyalist victory. The reporters confirmed that the pro-Gaddafi green flag was flying at the main square, where hours earlier rebels claimed to had surrounded the loyalists and attacking them from three sides, however shooting could be heared near the central square. The government stated that the opposition forces had been pushed out of the city and surrounded on the edge of Zawiyah.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43370270/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/ Libya's rebels claim resurgence; government denies]</ref><ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/12/us-libya-idUSTRE7270JP20110612 Libyan rebels say still fighting near capital]</ref>
+By the evening of 12 June, a government spokesman announced that the rebels were defeated at Zawiyah after hours of fighting.<ref>[http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE75B0D720110612 Libyan government says Zawiyah revolt defeated]</ref> A group of foreign reporters were taken from Tripoli to Zawiyah for confirmation of the loyalist victory. The reporters confirmed that the pro-Gaddafi green flag was flying at the main square, where hours earlier rebels claimed to had surrounded the loyalists and attacking them from three sides, however shooting could be heard near the central square. The government stated that the opposition forces had been pushed out of the city and surrounded on the edge of Zawiyah.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43370270/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/ Libya's rebels claim resurgence; government denies]</ref> A rebel in the town, however, said that fighting was still taking place within the city.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/12/us-libya-idUSTRE7270JP20110612 Libyan rebels say still fighting near capital]</ref>
 The rebels claimed that, during the battle, a loyalist commander, the high-ranking el-Khouwildy el-Ahmeidy, was seriously wounded in a NATO air-strike while he was heading to Zawiyah.<ref>[http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Libya-s-rebels-claim-resurgence-government-denies-1420645.php Libya's rebels claim resurgence; government denies]</ref>