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Fourth Battle of Brega

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Fourth Battle of Brega
Part of 2011 Libyan civil war
Date14 July 2011 –
Location
Brega, Libya
Result

Ongoing

  • Rebels troops 5-20 kms away from the city[3]
  • Gaddafi's forces establish an artillery line in Bishr to bombard the rebel assault
Belligerents

Libya Anti-Gaddafi forces

United Nations UNSC Resolution 1973 forces[1]

Libya Gaddafi Loyalists

Commanders and leaders
Gen. Abdul Fatah Younis
Col. Hamid Hassy[4]		 Al-Mu'tasim-Billah al-Gaddafi[5]
Strength
5,000[6] 3,000[7]-7,000[6]
Casualties and losses
54 killed[8][9][10]
333[11][12]-503[13] wounded,
several tanks disabled and several dozen technicals damaged[14]

30 killed,[15] 4 captured[16]

41 technicals, 3 tanks, 11 IFVs, 3 MRLs, 2 rocket launcher destroyed in air-strikes (NATO claim)

The Fourth Battle of Brega is a battle during the 2011 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.

Background

After about three months of stalemate on Libya's "eastern front", interupted only by the occasional clash between infantry units and some artillery duels, opposition military commanders launched an offensive to reclaim control of the town.

The Battle

14 July

The battle commenced on the 14 July, in the aftermath of the long-stalemated Battle of Brega-Ajdabiya road. The rebels were armed with refurbished and repaired T-72 and T-55 tanks and armoured personnel carriers as well as with armed technical trucks. Three rebels were killed and 73 were wounded.[17] Opposition forces advanced via the southern desert highway, the main central coastal road, and from the sea to the north of the town.[18] At one point, rebels claimed that loyalist forces were in retreat to an area called Bishr (Bashir), 20 km to the west of Brega.[19] However, Libyan government's spokesman Mussa Ibrahim stated several hours later that the military repulsed the attack by opposition forces, who had air and naval support from NATO, pointing out that NATO was breaking the UN resolution once again.[20][21]

15 July

By the next day, the rebels themselves confirmed that their attack had failed and that they had fallen back to their previous positions[22] where battles with loyalist forces continued on three fronts.[23] Late on the second day of the fighting, rebel forces on a recon mission breached Brega, but pulled back to prepare for a fresh offensive the next day. In addition to the large number of casualties suffered by the rebels, pro-Gaddafi forces also sustained a number of dead and wounded during the fighting. At this point, the rebels’ forward position closest to Brega was four kilometers to the north of the town. A second rebel forces attacking from due east of Brega faced stiffer resistance and was about 10-20 kilometres (six to 12 miles) from the town. To the south of the town, where the rebels had made initial gains but suffered large numbers of casualties, Gaddafi forces had pushed back harder.[24]

16 July

During the morning before dawn on the third day of fighting, according to some reports, rebel forces managed to enter Brega's outskirts but encountered heavy government shelling and multiple land mines. The rebels also stated that they captured four loyalist soldiers since the start of the battle.[16] As for the rebels, the number of casualties on their side during the day was 12 dead and 178 wounded due to the shelling and mines.[25] During 16 July, it was once again reported that the loyalist were withdrawing to Bishr. However, no independent media followed up on the story[26] and later rebel command stated opposition forces were still on the town's outskirts, moving slowly because of hundreds of land mines.[27] They were also slowed due to defensive trenches around the city that had been filled with flammable chemicals by retreating loyalist troops. Government forces had mostly pulled back into the town from its outskirts and left the booby-trapped trenches behind.[28] Most opposition troops were reportedly still 20 kilometers east of Brega by the end of the third day.[29]

17 July

On 17 July, three rebels were killed and 96[30]-127 wounded in street-to-street fighting in residential areas of Brega.[31] A rebel spokesman claimed that opposition forces had captured the north-eastern part of the town and were engaging loyalist troops in the south-western section.[32]

18 July

On 18 July, rebels announced that the main body of loyalist forces had retreated to Ras Lanuf while the main group of rebel forces was already behind Brega and was heading towards Bishr (al-Bashir) and Ugayla (Uqayla, al-Ageila). The rest of the rebel forces were still cleaning up mines and engaging pockets of resistance in Brega where an estimated 150-200 loyalist soldiers were still holed up in the industrial area.[33] However, in the evening, the government stated they were still in control of Brega, vowing to hold it after claiming to have killed 520 rebels,[34] and a rebel commander and fighters returning from the front said that opposition forces did manage to surround the town and enter the residential eastern part of the city, but the loyalists were still holding the western industrial area. Also, rebel forces coming in from the east were significantly slowed by the burning trenches which they were not able to extinguish because of a constant flow of oil into them from an oil pipeline directly linked to the trench system.[35][36] The rebels were also receiving rocket fire from the direction of Bashir.[37]

19 July

On 19 July, the rebels once again declared they were in full control of the town, except a few parts of the city (including the downtown section) to which they couldn't get to because of a high concentration of mines, but this was in contrast to the situation on the ground where there was still ongoing fighting. NATO itself stated it was not sure who controlled the town and described the situation as fluid.[38] Its aircraft were having problems to follow the movements of loyalist forces in Brega because of the black smoke coming from burning oil trenches.[39] 13 rebels were killed and 45 others wounded near Brega by loyalist artillery fire after government troops approached opposition positions in trucks carrying rebel flags. By the end of the day, rebel officers stated that opposition forces had captured only a third of the town and were still fighting in the residential area of Brega.[40][41] A rebel commander stated that opposition forces would need another 10 days before they could take complete control of Brega.[42] At the same time, Al Jazeera reported that opposition forces had still not entered Brega, despite managing to surround it, and were mainly positioned 10 kilometers east of the town, hampered by mines.[43]

20 July

On 20 July, there were no reports of major fighting, but the rebel casualties from the previous day rose to 27 dead and 83-121 wounded, putting the total of rebels killed since the beginning of the battle at over 50.[44][45]

21 July

On 21 July, it was reported that loyalist forces had booby-trapped the vital petroleum installations in Brega so that they can be destroyed if government troops lose the town. The rebels characterized the town as a "big minefield". It was also reported that the rebels had pulled back from the city and were encircling it.[46]

NATO Strikes

14th July-to-21st July NATO Strikes
Date Technicals Trucks Tanks Armored vehicles Rocket launchers Buildings
14 July[47] 1 Armed Vehicle 1 Tank 1 Armoured Fighting Vehicle 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher 1 Command and Control Node
15 July[48] 7 Armed Vehicles 1 Tank 5 Armoured Fighting Vehicles 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher
16 July[49] 5 Armed Vehicles 1 Tank 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher, 1 Rocket Launcher
17 July[50] 9 Armed Vehicles 2 Armoured Fighting Vehicles 1 Command and Control Node
18 July[51] 8 Armed Vehicles 2 Armoured Fighting Vehicles
19 July[52] 5 Armed Vehicles 1 Armoured Fighting Vehicles
20 July[53] 2 Armed Vehicles 1 Rocket Launcher
21 July[54] 1 Military Storage Facility
22 July[55] 4 Armed Vehicles 1 Military Storage Facility
23 July[56] 1 Armoured Fighting Vehicles 1 Rocket Launcher 1 Military Storage Facility, 1 Command and Control Node
Total 41 3 12 6 6

References

  1. ^ "UN clears way for Libyan no-fly zone". 18 Mar 2011.
  2. ^ "Nato takes control of enforcing Libya no-fly zone". 25 March 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  3. ^ Mines, forces slow advancing Libyan rebels
  4. ^ "Rebel-held Libyan city pounded". April 16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Libyan rebels claim kill 57 Gaddafi soldiers: report
  6. ^ a b Libya rebels blame war planning for front stalemate
  7. ^ Libya rebels killed trying to retake Brega
  8. ^ Libyan rebels pushed back from Brega
  9. ^ Dozens of Libyan rebels killed in battle for Brega
  10. ^ Libyan Rebels: Qaddafi Has Boobytrapped Oil Fields
  11. ^ Libyan forces, insurgents locked in battle for Port Brega
  12. ^ Dozens of Libyan rebels killed in battle for Brega
  13. ^ 73 wounded (14-15 July),[1] 178 wounded (16 July),[2] 96[3]-127[4] wounded (17 July), 83[5]-121[6] wounded (19 July), 4 wounded (20 July),[7] total of 434-503 reported wounded
  14. ^ Libyan forces, insurgents locked in battle for Port Brega
  15. ^ Libyan government vows to hold oil city against rebels
  16. ^ a b Medic: 10 Libya rebels killed in push for oil town
  17. ^ Libya rebels begin advance on Brega
  18. ^ Gadhafi government holds talks with U.S. officials
  19. ^ Al Jazeera Live Blog
  20. ^ Libyan Forces Attack Strategic Oil City
  21. ^ Libyan spokesman: 'We will die for oil'
  22. ^ Libyan rebels fall back after failed advance
  23. ^ Libya rebels lose three men in Brega assault
  24. ^ Libya rebels breach Brega: spokesman
  25. ^ Libya rebels continue offensive, Kadhafi defiant
  26. ^ Libyan rebels enter Brega after heavy fighting
  27. ^ Ten rebels killed in push for Brega
  28. ^ Libya rebel advance slowed by 'chemical' trenches
  29. ^ Heavy casualties reported in Libya fighting
  30. ^ Battles rage on in Libya
  31. ^ Over 120 rebels hurt in battle for east Libya town
  32. ^ Libyan rebels 'fighting Gaddafi forces in Brega
  33. ^ Libya rebels say Gaddafi forces retreat in east
  34. ^ Gadhafi government holds talks with U.S. officials
  35. ^ Libyan government vows to hold oil city against rebels
  36. ^ In Libya, rebel wounded tell the story behind fight for key city
  37. ^ Libyan rebels claim victory in battle for Brega
  38. ^ Libyan Rebels Won’t Sign Oil Deals Until Elected Government
  39. ^ Libyan forces, insurgents locked in battle for Port Brega
  40. ^ Libyan Troops Kill 8 Rebels Near Eastern Oil Town
  41. ^ 7 rebels dead, dozens wounded in Libyan government shelling
  42. ^ Battle For Brega Lingers Amid Push For Diplomacy In Libya
  43. ^ Libyan rebels pushed back from Brega
  44. ^ Dozens of Libyan rebels killed in battle for Brega
  45. ^ For Libyan rebels, a funeral is no somber event
  46. ^ Libyan Rebels: Qaddafi Has Boobytrapped Oil Fields
  47. ^ http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_07/20110715_110715-oup-update.pdf
  48. ^ http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_07/20110716_110716-oup-update.pdf
  49. ^ http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_07/20110717_110717-oup-update.pdf
  50. ^ http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_07/20110718_110718-oup-update.pdf
  51. ^ http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_07/20110719_110719-oup-update.pdf
  52. ^ http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_07/20110720_110720-oup-update.pdf
  53. ^ http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_07/20110721_110721-oup-update.pdf
  54. ^ http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_07/20110722_110722-oup-update.pdf
  55. ^ http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_07/20110723_110723-oup-update.pdf
  56. ^ http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_07/20110724_110724-oup-update.pdf

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