Zliten uprising

Zliten uprising
Part of Libyan Civil War
Date9 June – 16 June 2011
LocationZliten, Libya
Result

Pro-Gaddafi victory[1]

  • Pro-Gaddafi forces crush the uprising in the city
Belligerents

Libya Anti-Gaddafi forces

United Nations UNSC Resolution 1973 forces[2][3]

Libya Gaddafi Loyalists

Commanders and leaders
Unknown Libya Khamis Gaddafi[4]
Casualties and losses
22 killed[4] 4 tanks destroyed,[3] other casualties unknown

The Zliten uprising was a local uprising in the Libyan Civil War, started by rebel anti-Gaddafi forces against loyalist pro-Gaddafi forces in the city of Zliten. The city was of strategic importance due to its close proximity to the capital of Tripoli. After Zliten, only two cities – Khoms and Tajura – separated the rebel stronghold of Misrata from Tripoli.

Background

Zliten rose against Gaddafi during the initial onset of the rebellion in February 2011,[5] but the city was soon retaken by pro-Gaddafi loyalists. It was initially used as a staging point for loyalist attacks on rebel-held Misrata. According to a report by the United Nations refugee agency, men had been kidnapped from Misrata during the battle for the city, and taken to governmental camps in Zliten, before being forced to pledge allegiance to the government and fight on the pro-Gaddafi side.[6]

By early May, the rebel Free Libyan Army had expelled pro-Gaddafi forces from Misrata, pushing by 9 May to the village of Dafniya, 20 kilometers east of Zliten. The frontline remained relatively static for the next month, with rumors of discontent and rebellion in Zliten persisting. According to the rebels, they are training and equipping fighters from Zliten, so that the city may liberate themselves.[7] Rebels also claimed that NATO had been holding them back, preventing the frontline from advancing.[8]

On 15 May, a rebel spokesman claimed that the anti-Gaddafi forces from Misrata had coordinated efforts with Zliten revolutionaries, and defeated Gaddafi forces, but this claim was later found to be untrue.[9]

On 1 June, a rebel spokesman claimed that Gaddafi had begun arming criminals in Zliten, in an effort to keep the city under his control. This claim was denied by the Libyan government.[10]

Uprising

By 9 June, heavy fighting erupted in the city of Zliten, with the rebels suffering 22 fatalities by the next day.[11] Pro-Gaddafi forces surrounded the city, armed with artillery and Grad rockets. According to rebels, the loyalist forces threatened to have the city's women raped by mercenaries, if it did not surrender. RAF airstrikes destroyed at least 4 loyalist MBTs outside the city.[3]

On 10 June, Libya State TV reported that government forces shot down a NATO helicopter near Zliten. NATO denied this.[12]

By 11 June, rebels controlled some parts of the town, but the city center was still firmly under the control of loyalist forces.[13]

On 14 June, NATO attack helicopters were deployed and subsequently destroyed two rigid-hull inflatable boats being operated by pro-Gaddafi forces threatening maritime traffic in the area. Shortly afterwards, the attack helicopters successfully struck an anti-aircraft heavy machine gun and three military vehicles hidden under trees in the vicinity of Zliten.[14]

The next day, Sheikh Khalifa Zuwawi, the chairman of the rebel council in Misrata, appealed to NATO to intervene in the city to save the uprising from certain annihilation by loyalist forces. Rebels within the city had been pinned down in a single district, and photographers who approached to around four miles outside the city photographed rockets being fired within the town.[15]

By 16 June, major fighting in Zliten had ceased. Reports suggested that the rebels were holding just a few pockets of the town near the center while the majority of the city was still in loyalist hands with government troops conducting sweeps and arresting people suspected of being involved with the opposition forces.[16][17]

On 17 June, rebels confirmed they had no intention of taking Zliten using forces from Misrata, but were rather aiming to support Zliten residents in taking up arms against Gaddafi's forces.[18]

On 15 July, tens of thousands of Gaddafi supporters, coming from the city and from other cities in buses, were seen on the main square of Zliten to protest against the international recognition of the rebel council.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Libya's Zliten rebels struggle to inch forward
  2. ↑ "UN clears way for Libyan no-fly zone". ABC News. 18 Mar 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 Ministry of Defence | Fact Sheets | Libya: Operations Updates. Mod.uk. Retrieved on 12 June 2011.
  4. 1 2 Londo, Ernesto (23 March 2011). "Libyan rebels stage insurrection in Zlitan". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  5. ↑ "Gadaffi under threat as revolt hits Tripoli". Mail & Guardian Online. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "People in Battle-Torn Libya Facing Critical Shortages". Voice of America. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  7. ↑ "Libya: Doubt over city's loyalty puts brake on rebel advance". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). 5 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  8. ↑ Stephen, Chris (8 June 2011). "Libya rebels held back by NATO". Sydney Morning Herald (Dafniya). Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  9. ↑ Faul, Michelle (16 May 2011). "Libya rebels claim tighter grip on city of Misrata". ABC News (Benghazi). Associated Press. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  10. ↑ Graff, Peter; Babington, Deepa (1 June 2011). "Libya oil chief defects, NATO extends campaign". RealClearWorld. Reuters. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  11. ↑ Madany, Sherine El (10 June 2011). "Fighting erupts in Zlitan, Turkey offers Gaddafi exit". Reuters. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  12. ↑ "NATO denies helicopter shot down in Libya". Reuters Africa. Reuters. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  13. ↑ Kirkpatrick, David D. (11 June 2011). "Qaddafi Forces Shell Rebels Near Misurata". The New York Times (Cairo). Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  14. ↑ http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_75418.htm
  15. ↑ Stephen, Chris (15 June 2011). "Misrata rebel leader appeals to Nato to save neighbouring town". The Guardian (Misrata). Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  16. ↑ "Libyan rebels prepare push on "lawless" Zlitan". Reuters Africa. Reuters. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  17. ↑ Kirkpatrick, David D. (16 June 2011). "Libyan Rebels Trumpet Coordination in Attacks". The New York Times (Tripoli). Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  18. ↑ Lau, K. Cameron (17 June 2011). "Libya: Rebels Launch Rockets Moving Closer to Tripoli". International Business Times. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  19. ↑ Ramsey, Stuart (16 July 2011). "Thousands Bussed In To Pro-Gaddafi Rally". Sky News (Zliten). Retrieved 16 October 2011.
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