2014 Libyan uprising

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2014 Libyan uprising
Part of the post-civil war violence in Libya
Date February 14, 2014 present
Location Libya
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Libya Libyan Republican Alliance
Libyan National Army
Army units
Air Force units
Marines
Al-Saiqa
Other forces loyal to General Haftar:
Zintani brigades
Qaaqaa Brigade
Sawaiq Brigade
Libya Libyan Government
Libyan National Army
Ansar al-Sharia Other Islamists loyal to the government:
February 17th Martyrs Brigade
Libya Shield Force
Rafallah al-Sahati Brigade
Ignewa Al-Kikly
Lions of Monotheism
Commanders and leaders
Libya Maj. Gen. Khalifa Belqasim Haftar
(Commander of the Libyan National Army) Libya Ali Zeidan
(Prime Minister of Libya)
[hide] v t e
Post-civil war
violence in Libya
1st Bani Walid Kufra 1st Sabha Tripoli airport Zintan Benghazi Embassy 2nd Bani
Walid Benghazi 10 October coup attempt
2014 uprising
2014 Libyan coup d'tat attempts 2014 Benghazi 2014 Tripoli
Since early 2014 General Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, a senior military officer in L
ibya, masterminded two coup attempts in what he claimed to be a "correction to t
he path of the revolution".[1] The tensions quickly developed into an armed conf
lict in a campaign that Haftar codenamed Operation Dignity, as he took the fight
to Libya's powerful Islamists in what he calls along with his backers a "war on
terrorism", which is part of an effort to purge the country from their presence
.[2][3] The uprising is so far the most serious challenge to the Libyan authorit
ies since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.[4]
Contents [hide]
1 Taking sides
2 Timeline
2.1 May 1617
2.1.1 Fighting
2.1.2 Government reaction
2.1.3 Casualties
2.2 May 18
2.3 May 19
2.4 May 20
2.5 May 21
2.6 May 22
3 Reactions
4 References
Taking sides[edit]
On May 19, 2014, a number of militias announced their support for Gen. Haftar, i
ncluding those at an air force base in the eastern city of Tobruk, others who ha
ve occupied swaths of the countrys oil infrastructure, and members of an importan
t militia in Benghazi. On the other hand, fighters from Misrata said they would
soon move on Tripoli to counter Haftars assault, but in the recent months, the re
negade general has gathered allies in his stronghold of Bayda, 125 miles east of
Benghazi, from among a disenfranchised former officers corps.[4]
In addition, Libya's ambassador to the United Nations announced his backing of H
aftar's offensive against Islamist lawmakers and extremist militias, just hours
after the country's air force commander made a similar move, further building su
pport for a campaign the government has described as a coup d'tat.[5] The command
er of the army's special forces also said he had allied with Haftar.[6] However,
the show of support for the general appears to have triggered a heavy backlash,
as Libya's navy chief Brig. Gen. Hassan Abu-Shanaq, who also announced his supp
ort for Haftar's revolt, was wounded in an assassination attempt in the capital
Tripoli along with his driver and a guard. Late Tuesday, the air forces headquar
ters in Tripoli came under a rocket attack but no casualties were reported.[5][7
]
Timeline[edit]
May 1617[edit]
Fighting[edit]
Hostilities began when Gen. Haftar's forces bombed the bases of Islamist groups,
including the one blamed for the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi on Se
ptember 11, 2012. His forces launched a land and air offensive in Benghazi again
st Ansar al-Sharia and Islamist militias loyal to the interim national governmen
t using helicopters and other aircraft taking part in the operation. An airstrik
e in on an Ansar al Sharia base killed at least one of its members. Haftar has v
owed to not stop until the extremists groups are purged.[8][9]
The operation, codenamed "Libya's Dignity" by Haftar, began early in the morning
of Friday 16th May when Forces loyal to General Haftar attacked units of the 17
th February Brigade, the Libya Shield No. 1 (Deraa No. 1) Brigade, and Ansar al-
Sharia. Fighting was largely confined to the south western Benghazi districts of
Hawari and Sidi Ferej. In particular the fighting focused on the area between t
he south-western gate checkpoint and the cement factory; an area controlled by A
nsar al-Sharia. As part of the fighting helicopters were seen over Hawari. Fight
ing was also reported in the port area between marines and the Libya Shield No.
1 (Deraa No. 1) Brigade.[10]
Haftar's forces seemingly moved on Benghazi from the east, with some units origi
nating from Marj. Included within these forces were various tribal units. Elemen
ts of the Libyan military in Benghazi then seemingly joined them. There were als
o unconfirmed reports of forces loyal to Ibrahim Jadhrans Cyrenaica federalist fo
rces fighting alongside units loyal to Haftar.[10]
Although the Libyan Air Force and marines have close links with the Saiqa Specia
l Forces Brigade, neither the Brigade, nor the Benghazi Joint Security Room, wer
e seemingly involved. The BJSR former spokesperson, Colonel Mohammad Hejazi, spo
ke of Libyan military forces fighting "terrorist formations" in the Benghazi dis
tricts of Sidi Ferej and Hawari. Hejazi also claimed that Libyan army forces were
now in control of a camp at Rafallah Al-Sahati. Libya Herald also claimed that a
n eyewitness had claimed to have seen tanks belonging to the Saiqa Brigade stati
oned on the road in front of its camp at Buatni. The Brigade called for Benghazi
residents to avoid districts witnessing the clashes.[10]
As a result of the fighting the streets of Benghazi were largely empty. The figh
ting also saw roads into Benghazi being effectively closed, whilst several fligh
ts in and out of Benghazi's Beninan Airport were cancelled or delayed.[10]
The following day, fighters from Rafallah al-Sahati and the 17 February Brigade
also returned to their bases, from which they had been driven off the previous d
ay.[11]
Government reaction[edit]
At a government press conference on the afternoon of the 16 May acting Prime Min
ister Abdullah Al-Thinni condemned the move by Haftar as illegal and claimed tha
t the move undermined attempts to confront terrorism. Thinni had called Ansar al
-Sharia a terrorist organisation earlier in May 2014.[10]
Thinni claimed that only 1 Libyan Air Force plane had taken part in the clashes,
alongside 120 army vehicles, although CNN reported that Benghazi residents clai
med to have witnessed more than one military plane over the city during the figh
ting.[12]
Major General Abdulsalam Jad Allah Al-Salheen Al-Obaidi, the Chief of Staff of t
he Libyan National Army, also condemned the attack by Haftar, and called forces
loyal to him "intruders into Benghazi". Instead Obaidi urged revolutionaries in Be
nghazi to resist them.[10]
The next day, Libya's army responded to Haftar's airstrikes by imposing a strict
no-fly zone over Benghazi banning all flights over the city in a direct challen
ge to Haftar in order to prevent the paramilitary force from using air power aga
inst Islamist militias in the region.[13][14]
Casualties[edit]
By the end of the first day Haftar's LNA had seemingly suffered 4 dead and 24 wo
unded. LNA dead and wounded were taken to a hospital in Marj. The number of dead
and wounded from the Islamist groups was made difficult due to Ansar al-Sharia'
s policy of not releasing casualty reports. The 17th February Brigade similarly
released no figures.[10] Overall, the resulting battle claimed between 70 and 75
lives.[8]
May 18[edit]
Gen. Haftars militia allies backed by truck-mounted anti-aircraft guns, mortars a
nd rocket fire attacked parliament, sending lawmakers fleeing for their lives as
gunmen ransacked the legislature, declaring the body suspended. A commander in
the military police in Libya read a statement announcing the body's suspension o
n behalf of a group led by Haftar.[15]
The clashes began on the evening of Sunday 18 May, beginning first at the GNC bu
ilding, before then spreading to Hay Al-Akwakh, particularly in the area of the
steel bridge on the Airport road. Missiles were also reported to have fallen clo
se to the TV station on Ennasr Street. Heavy firing was also heard in the Cornic
he area on the way to Mitiga airbase. The clashes however died down by the late
evening.[16]
Later on Sunday evening a group of 5 officers, who identified themselves as the
Leaders of the Libyan Army, announced the suspension of the General National Con
gress. The officers, under the lead of the Zintani former head of Military Intel
ligence, Col. Muktar Fernana, instead announced that the Constitutional Committe
e would carry out the work of the GNC. Under the plan al-Thinni's government was
to remain in office, and would oversee the formation of military and security f
orces. The statement therefore blocked Ahmed Maiteeq from assuming the position
of Prime Minister. Col. Fernana also proclaimed that the Libyan people "would ne
ver accept to be controlled by a group or organization which initiates terror an
d chaos".[17] Col. Fernana claimed that Gen. Haftar had assigned a 60 member ass
embly to take over from the GNC, with the current government acting only on an e
mergency basis.[18]
May 19[edit]
On Monday 19 May Col. Wanis Abu Khamada, the commander of Libya's Special Forces
, announced that his forces would be joining Haftar's operation against Islamist
militant groups in Benghazi. Khamadas Special Forces had previously come under
attack from Islamist militants in Benghazi, with dozens of members of the unit b
eing killed. In his declaration Khamada announced that his unit would join Hafta
r's Libyan National Army "with all our men and weapons".[19] Khamada argued that
the operation was "the work of the people".[20] By Monday the death toll for Fr
iday's clashes had reached 79.[19] However, the Tripoli-based Al-Qaeda-inspired
Lions of Monotheism group announced that it would fight forces loyal to Gen. Haf
tar.[21]
May 20[edit]
On the evening of Tuesday 20 May Col. Gomaa al-Abbani, the top commander of the
Libyan Air Force, also announced his support for Haftar. The same evening the Na
tional Forces Alliance issued a statement seemingly in support of Haftar, procla
iming that Libyans have found themselves "drowning in swamp of terrorism, darkne
ss, killing and destruction". The following day the official Libyan news agency
claimed that the Interior Ministry had announced its support for Haftar's operat
ion, in direct contrast to the governments denunciation of the operation as a co
up.[22]
The Libyan Revolutionaries Operations Room issued a call for serving military pe
rsonnel to desert, claiming that they did not need the support of Haftar. The gr
oup called on its forces to temporarily withdraw from the Army, and to disclose
to their commanders the names of anyone involved in attempting to kill either of
ficials or members of the security forces. it would seek the persecution of name
d individuals through the Attorney Generals office. In their announcement LROR cl
aimed that they would lead the fight against criminals in Libya, and would carry
on without Haftar or his operation.[23]
May 21[edit]
In a televised statement late Wednesday Haftar appeared in a military uniform su
rrounded by military officers and accused the current Islamist-led parliament of
turning Libya to a state "sponsoring terrorism" and a "hideout to terrorists" w
ho infiltrated the joints of the state, wasted its resources and controlled its
decision making. He asserted that the military wants the continuation of politic
al life and stressed that the new council is a civilian one in an apparent attem
pt to defuse fears of militarizing the state.[24]
Tripoli residents reported several loud explosions earlier that day near the al-
Yarmouk air defense barracks. This came after the air defense top commander Juma
al-Abani released a video message saying he was joining Haftar's campaign again
st Islamists. Heavy fighting involving anti-aircraft machine guns mounted on tru
cks also broke out overnight near an army camp in Tajoura, an eastern suburb. Th
e city was quiet by dawn. The health ministry reported that at least two people
from Mali died in the fighting.[25]
Ansar al-Sharia issued a statement denouncing Haftar's operation as a "war again
st the religious Muslim youth". The group instead claimed that they had been the
subject of a hate campaign by those against Islam and Sharia, and that their op
ponents were the real terrorists. The group instead claimed that they wished to
safeguard Muslim blood and had not hindered the building of Libya's security org
anisations. The group claimed that the campaign against them was being conducted
by "evil television channels" and were led by "ex-regime sympathisers and secul
arists supported by their masters in the west". The group also asked tribes to p
revent their sons from joining Haftars forces.[26]
May 22[edit]
Thousands of demonstrators rallied in various cities on Friday after prayers in
support of Gen. Haftar and his campaign against Islamist militias and his calls
to suspend parliament. In Benghazi, thousands of pro-Haftar demonstrators gather
ed outside Tibesti Hotel and in the city's Tahreer Square, as well as others in
the city of Bayda further east. "No to militias, Libya will not become another A
fghanistan" and "Yes to the army, yes to the police", their banners read. Meanwh
ile, crowds in Tripoli's Martyr's Square chanted against the parliament and in s
upport of a national army and police force to replace the militias that run ramp
ant in the country. They sang the national anthem as they waved the flag and car
ried banners that read "Yes to Dignity". They called for an official response to
the militias. "Libya is in trouble, we want police, we want army", they chanted
. While some Libyans don't back Haftar and don't want military rule, they suppor
t what he is doing.[27][28][29] The protest, dubbed the "Friday of Dignity", too
k its name from the offensive launched by Haftar, one week ago in the eastern ci
ty of Benghazi. The demonstrations were some of the largest the country has seen
since the uprising three years ago and were the first since then to be held sim
ultaneously in cities across Libya, which put more pressure on the embattled Isl
amist-led parliament to offer concessions. The interim government issued a state
ment in support of Fridays protests and reasserted its proposal this week to susp
end parliament. "The participation of tens of thousands [in the protests] requir
es all to answer to the demands of the people who represent legitimacy that can'
t be ignored", the statement said.[29]
Islamist militias from Misrata, known collectively as the Libyan Central Shield,
have deployed in the capital amid a standoff with forces loyal to Haftar.[30] T
hey are under the command of the country's chief of staff who answers to parliam
ent.[31] This followed calls by the head of parliament and the army chief on the
Islamists to interfere on the government's behalf.[30][32]
Reactions[edit]
Tunisia - In response to the clashes the Tunisian National Council for Security
held an emergency meeting on the 18 May, and decided to send 5,000 soldiers to
the TunisianLibyan border in anticipation of potential consequences from the figh
ting.[33]
References[edit]
Jump up ^ "General Hafter announces coup; politicians react with scorn, order hi
s arrest". Libya Herald. February 14, 2014.
Jump up ^ "A Q&A with Khalifa Hifter, the mastermind behind Libyas new revolt". T
he Washington Post. May 20, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Leader of Libyas revolt, Khalifa Hifter, rules out negotiations and vo
ws to fight". The Washington Post. May 20, 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b "Khalifa Hifter, the ex-general leading a revolt in Libya, spe
nt years in exile in Northern Virginia". The Washington Post. May 20, 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b "2 Ranking Libyan Officials Side With Rogue General". ABC News
. May 20, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Libyan special forces commander says his forces join renegade general
". Reuters. May 19, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Libyan renegade general urges new 'crisis cabinet'". BBC. May 21, 201
4.
^ Jump up to: a b "Libya announces elections: Will it help calm the violence?".
CNN. May 20, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Turmoil in Libya: Fighting sweeps across Tripoli following violence i
n Benghazi". CNN. May 19, 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Hafter launches Benghazi attack on Islamists". Liby
a Herald. May 16, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Fighting in Benghazi Leaves Dozens Dead Amid Libyan Violence". NBC Ne
ws. May 17, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Renegade Libyan forces attack Benghazi militants as Tripoli protests"
. CNN. May 16, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Libya army declares no-fly zone over Benghazi". Daily Times. May 18,
2014.
Jump up ^ "Libya sets Benghazi no-fly zone after clashes". BBC. May 18, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Libyan lawmakers run for lives as gunmen ransack legislature". Toront
o Star. May 18, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Fighting spreads in Tripoli as brigades move against GNC attackers; f
ive dead". Libya Herald. May 18, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Leaders of Libyan Army suspend GNC". Libya Herald. May 18, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Renegade Libyan general says parliament suspended". Associated Press.
May 18, 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b "Libya special forces to join renegade general". Al Jazeera. M
ay 20, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Benghazis Saiqa Special Forces join Hafters Dignity Operation". Libya Her
ald. May 19, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Armed group attacks Libyan parliament". Al Jazeera. May 19, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Top Libyan commander joins rebel forces". Al Jazeera. May 21, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Libyan Revolutionaries Operations Room call on army members to desert
". Libya Herald. May 21, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Libya general calls for council to take power". The Washington Post.
May 21, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Libyan renegade general challenges government as clashes rock Tripoli
". Reuters. May 21, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Ansar Al-Sharia says Hafter is waging war against Islam". Libya Heral
d. May 21, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Crowds rally in Libya to support retired general's campaign". CNN. Ma
y 23, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Thousands rally in support of rogue Libyan general". The Times of Ind
ia. May 24, 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b "Thousands across Libya march in support of reforms". The Wash
ington Post. May 23, 2014.
^ Jump up to: a b "In Libya, fears of all-out war as Islamist militias allied wi
th parliament deploy in capital". The Washington Post. May 23, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Islamist-Led Militias Deploy in Libya's Capital". NDTV. May 22, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Libya orders Islamist militias to oppose rogue general". USA Today. M
ay 19, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Tunisia to send 5,000 extra troops to Libyan border because of Libya
crisis". Libya Herald. May 18, 2014.
Categories: Conflicts in 20142014 in LibyaAftermath of the Libyan Civil War
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