Misrata ambush

Misrata ambush (2016) Part of the Libyan Civil War (2014–present) Date 27 April 2016 Location Misrata-Sirte road, Libya Result IS victory Belligerents Government of National Accord Multi-National Force Libya: United Kingdom Italy Islamic State Wilayat Tripolitania Units involved Local soldiers[1] Royal Marines Special Boat Service[1][2] Italian Marines San Marco Marine Brigade[1] Military of ISIL[1] Casualties and losses Several Italian Marines killed or injured[1] Several captured[2] Several suicide bombers

On 27 April, Islamic State in Libya ambushed a convoy consisting of an undisclosed number of troops. A multi-national force of Britain's Special Boat Service personnel, Italian Marines from the San Marco Brigade, and local soldiers loyal to the recognized Libyan Government of National Accord were travelling from the northwestern Libyan city of Misrata towards the IS stronghold of Sirte when it was hit.^[3]

The initial attack was initiated by IS vehicles that were described as "packed with explosives" when they inexplicably were allowed to drive directly "alongside the convoy transporting the Italian and British troops" prior to setting off a sizable amount of explosives. Directly after the suicide bombs were detonated, IS militants carried on the attack with an unexpected degree of training and discipline. Before the smoke was even close to clearing, "Other ISIS fighters shelled the convoy with mortars and strafed it with heavy machine gun fire" until "Italian and French warplanes and attack helicopters intervened."

References

3. "Italian-British force ambushed by IS in Libya". www.debka.com. Retrieved 2016-05-02.