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Battle of Derna (2018–2019)

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For other uses, see Battle of Derna (disambiguation).
Battle of Derna (2018)
Part of the Second Libyan Civil War

Map of the territorial changes during the operation, up until 16 June
Date7 May[9] – 28 June 2018
(1 month and 3 weeks)
Location
Derna, Libya
32°46′N 22°38′E / 32.767°N 22.633°E / 32.767; 22.633
Result Major Libyan National Army victory[10]
Territorial
changes		 Derna is captured by the Tobruk government
Belligerents
House of Representatives
Supported by:
 United Arab Emirates[1]
 France (allegedly)[2]
 ISIL (limited involvement)[7][8]
Commanders and leaders
Units involved

Libyan National Army

France

No specific units
Strength
60 or less (HOR estimate, 14 June)[23]
Casualties and losses
20 killed, 35 wounded[24] 100 killed, 100 captured (HOR claim)[25]
17 civilians killed, 30 wounded[26]
Approximately 19,270 civilians displaced[27]
  1. ^ Muftah al-Ghweil was reported "neutralized" on 26 June.

The Battle of Derna was a military campaign by the Libyan House of Representatives to recapture the city of Derna from the Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna,[28] also known as the Derna Protection Forces (DPF).[29]

The Battle followed a Siege which had been underway since 2016.

Timeline

View of Derna from a hilltop

On 7 May 2018, Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar declared that the peace efforts in Derna had reached a dead end, announcing the "Zero Hour" for the "liberation of Derna". In a speech delivered at a military parade in Benghazi, Haftar declared that his "army forces" were targeting the "terrorists’ hideouts".[30][31] Subsequently, the LNA entered Derna and clashed in the Al-Fatayeh district, losing 7 troops and several military vehicles.[32] The military warned local residents of the need to observe security measures, and in particular, called on the civilian population not to approach the places of concentration of militants.[33]

On 8 May, Mansour Al-Hasadi, member of the High Council of State, called for international protection of civilians in the city of Derna, pointing towards the large number of families who had to flee their homes in the district of Fatayeh in search of another safe place in the city.[34] The same day, the LNA captured east of Derna,[35] as well as a major high ground.[36]

On 9 May, the High Council of State renewed its call to end the Battle of Derna,[37] calling for the Presidential Council, the parliament and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya to intervene.[38]

On 15 May, Human Rights Watch reported that civilians were endangered by the attack on Derna.[39]

On 18 May, the LNA was working on dismantling the external defense lines of the terrorists inside the city – putting heavy pressure on the militants, who did not have a choice but to leave their hideouts and become an easy target for the army.[40]

On 23 May, Haftar announced that the LNA will intensify its offensive on the far eastern port city of Derna until it has full control of the area.[41]

On 24 May, Haftar announced that the LNA was "near victory".[42] The same day, 2 LNA troops were killed by a car bombing[43] which was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.[8]

On 28 May, the LNA seized two suburbs in south-western Derna.[44]

On 29 May, the LNA took control of the western entrance to Derna.[45] The same day, the Derna Protection Force withdrew from the Al-Fatayeh district to the east of the city.[46]

On 30 May, a water desalination plant in Derna stopped working as a result of the war.[47]

By 5 June, the LNA had seized 75% of Derna.[48] On 9 June and 10 June, the LNA said it had advanced in the district of Sheiha after hitting it with multiple air strikes, to the edge of Al Maghar in central Derna.[49] LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari also stated that the combat zone was now "less than just 10 km squared."[49]

On 11 June, it was reported that several districts in Derna had been seized by the LNA, with only a few pockets of resistance remaining in the eastern part of the city.[50] Many news outlets then reported that the battle was nearing it's end.[51][52][53] On 12 June, the LNA was attacked by 2 suicide bombers,[54] the second of whom killed 2 fighters and wounded 3 others.[55] On 13 June, The Libya Observer released a video of 2 unarmed men in civilian clothes being tortured and executed by the LNA.[56]

On 14 June, Saleh Faraj, an officer patrolling areas under LNA control, stated that only "50 or 60 remnant" fighters of the DPF were still in Derna, and that they were now holed up in the central district of the city.[57] He also stated that the DPF had planted explosives and deployed snipers.[57] On 18 June, Abu Sufian bin Qumu, Osama Bin Laden's former driver, Was captured by the LNA.[58] On 20 June, A suicide bomber killed 4 Libyan security force members, After heading towards them with a white flag.[59][60] On 24 June, Looting, robberies and assaults on properties by the LNA forced Tens of families to flee from the Bab Tobruk and Sahel areas.[61]

On 26 June, while the LNA was fighting for the "last remaining meters" of Derna, LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari stated that most of the terrorist commanders had been killed or captured within the last few days. Although he was unable to confirm the death of Ateyah Al-Shaari, The leader of the Derna protection Forces, He was able to confirm the "neutralization" of a different commander, Muftah al-Ghweil.[20]

On 27 June, UNICEF sent a thousand hygiene kits to Derna, which should benefit about Five thousand people, including children.

On 28 June, al-Qaeda Media Organizer Abu Safana Ben Kama was detained by the LNA.[62] Later on the same day, the LNA also managed to take control of the Al-Maghar district, capturing the entire city of Derna.[63] By the end of the day, the LNA had declared victory.[10]

Reactions

Supranational
  •  United Nations – Spokeswoman Elizabeth Throssell from The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said "We are deeply alarmed at the escalating risks to the population," and added "There have been increasing allegations that civilians have been arbitrarily detained, while others have been prevented from leaving the city."[64]
States
  •  Italy – The Italian Embassy to Libya stated that it agreed with UNSMIL and called for deescalation of the conflict, and they also stated that they are ready to provide humanitarian aid.[65]

See also

References

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