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First Gulf of Sidra offensive

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Second Battle of Bin Jawad
Part of 2011 Libyan uprising
DateMarch 27, 2011 - March 29, 2011
Location
Bin Jawad, Libya
Result Pro-Gaddafi victory[1]
Belligerents

Libya Anti-Gaddafi Forces

United Nations UN no-fly Zone

Libya Gaddafi Loyalists

Commanders and leaders
Gen. Khalifa Hifter (unconfirmed)[2] Al-Saadi al-Gaddafi[3]
Strength
1,000+ Saadi Brigade
Casualties and losses
At least 5 killed[4][5] At least 3 killed[6]

The Second Battle of Bin Jawad was a battle between forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the Libyan opposition for control of the town of Bin Jawad and the surrounding areas.

Bin Jawad held strategic importance for the pro-Gaddafi forces being the last major settlement before Sirte, the gateway to Tripolitania from the East.

The Battle

March 27 - Rebels recapture the town

On March 27, rebels entered Bin Jawad, after coalition air-strikes on tanks positioned there, without any opposition and managed to recapture the town.[7][8]

March 28 - Skirmishes along the road to Sirte

On March 28, rebel forces advanced further west toward Sirte and took the town of Nawfaliya. After securing Nawfaliya, they continued westwards to the village of Harawah. There they tried to negotiate with the tribal leaders for the locals to join their uprising. However, the civilians in the village attacked the rebels with automatic weapons and the opposition was forced to withdraw from Harawah. At the same time, the long rebel coloumn, coming from Bin Jawad, was ambushed a number of times on the highway and loyalists managed to flank the rebels and attack them from the rear. This forced the opposition forces to withdraw back to Nawfaliya, and some of them even retreated back to Bin Jawad.[9]

March 29 - Counteroffensive by pro-Gaddafi forces

On March 29, pro-government forces intensified attacks on Libyan rebels, forcing them to abandon the key town of Bin Jawad.

The rebels first retreated from the town of Nawfaliya, 120km (75 miles) from Col Gaddafi's birthplace of Sirte, to the coastal town of Bin Jawad, some 30km further east. Intense fighting over the town was reported, including artillery duels, before the rebels fled in hundreds of vehicles, some of them as far as Ra's Lanuf.[10] The opposition's military commanders suggested that lack of discipline and stretched supply lines are partly to blame for the retreat. [11]

Pro-government forces have advanced to 20km away from Ra's Lanuf and have begun shelling the city with artillery and mortars, forcing the rebels to retreat. [12]

See Also

First Battle of Bin Jawad

References

  1. ^ "Gaddafi troops force rebels back". BBC. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  2. ^ "Libyan rebels push west into less friendly territory". Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  3. ^ "Libyan rebels close on key Gadhafi stronghold". Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  4. ^ "Libyan rebels target Gadhafi's birthplace". Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  5. ^ "Libyan rebels brought up short, Sirte blasted by NATO jets". Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  6. ^ "Libya rebels fight for Sirte road - birthplace of Gaddafi". Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  7. ^ http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_649954.html
  8. ^ http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/03/video-revolutionaries-take-ras-lanuf-brega-uqayla-bin-jawad/
  9. ^ "Gadhafi troops reverse Libyan rebel charge". Reuters. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  10. ^ "Gaddafi troops force rebels back". BBC. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  11. ^ http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-29
  12. ^ http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-29
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