Battle of Sirte (2015) explained

Conflict:Battle of Sirte (2015)
Partof:the Second Libyan Civil War
Date:14 March – 31 May 2015
Place:Sirte, Libya
Result:Major ISIL victory
Combatant1: Libya Shield Force
Combatant2:
Commander1: General Mohammad al-Ajtal (Army Commander)[1] Suliman Ali Mousa[2]
Commander2: Abu Nabil al-Anbari (ISIL commander of North Africa)
Ali Al-Qarqaa (ISIL Emir of Nofaliya)
Strength1:Unknown
Strength2: 2,000 fighters[3]
Casualties1:10 killed
Casualties2:41 killed[4]

The Battle of Sirte refers to the battle in the spring of 2015, in the region of Sirte, Libya, between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Libya Shield Force. ISIL forces had been present in the city since February 2015,[5] before the Fall of Nofaliya. After Nofaliya fell to ISIL forces, the Tripoli-based government had decided to send reinforcements to recapture Sirte.[6]

The battle

The fighting began 14 March 2015, between forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the forces of the Libya Shield Force. No death toll was initially given, but the fighting was described as being violent, and stopped at dusk.[7] Among those killed was Ahmed al-Rouissi, a Tunisian ISIL commander.[8]

On 18 March, 12 Tripoli government soldiers were killed during fighting against Islamic State fighters; 10 in Nofaliya and 2 in Bin Jawad.[9]

On 25 March, ISIL attacked a Brigade 166 checkpoint, 15 kilometers west of Sirte, killing five militiamen.[10]

Over the next two months, sporadic fighting took place around Sirte. On 20 May, ISIL forces again attacked a Brigade 166 position. According to a Libya Dawn official, 23 ISIL fighters and one soldier were killed.[11] On 28 May ISIL captured the nearly-ruined Ghardabiya Airbase and the Great Man-Made River water project outside of Sirte when Libyan Shield Forces withdrew.[12] Over the next few days, Libya Shield Forces withdrew to positions 12 miles west of Sirte, after ISIL advanced to the east, south, and west of the city.[13]

Aftermath

During August and September, new clashes erupted in Sirte between pro-Gaddafi loyalists and ISIL forces.[14] On 23 September, ISIL once again asserted its control over the whole of Sirte after it expelled all the remaining pro-Gaddafi elements.

In February 2016, U.S. officials believed that there were 5,000 to 6,000 ISIL fighters in Libya,[15] and gave a maximum estimate of up to 6,500.[16] This marked an increase from previous estimates in the 2,000 to 3,000 range.[15] Many of ISIL's new recruits came from Iraq, Syria and Tunisia.[16] At this point, ISIL's strength was increasing in Libya while simultaneously declining in Iraq and Syria.[15]

In May 2016, the Government of National Accord started a new battle to retake Sirte.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Combats entre l'EI et Fajr Libya à Syrte. L'Orient-Le Jour. 16 March 2015 . 22 March 2015.
  2. Web site: On the Frontline of Libya's Fight Against the Islamic State. Vice. 23 April 2015. 14 April 2015.
  3. Web site: Overcoming A Lack of Central Authority Must Be Libya's First Step in the Fight Against ISIL. Lauren Stauffer. Human Security Centre. 8 July 2015 . 16 August 2015.
  4. Web site: Islamic State fighting in Libya's Sirte claims at least 19 lives. mcclatchydc. 16 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150623103603/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/03/14/259788/islamic-state-fighting-in-libyas.html. 23 June 2015. dead.
  5. Web site: Libye: le groupe EI prend le contrôle d'une radio locale à Syrte. RFI. 13 February 2015. RFI. 22 March 2015.
  6. Web site: L'Expression - Le Quotidien - Combats entre jihadistes de l'EI et miliciens à Syrte. 22 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150712115632/http://www.lexpressiondz.com/internationale/212660-combats-entre-jihadistes-de-l-ei-et-miliciens-a-syrte.html. 12 July 2015. dead.
  7. Web site: Libye - Libye : combats entre jihadistes de l'Ãtat islamique et miliciens à Syrte - Jeuneafrique.com - le premier site d'information et d'actualité sur l'Afrique. AFP. 15 March 2015. JEUNEAFRIQUE.COM. 22 March 2015.
  8. Web site: Libye : un responsable tunisien de l'Etat islamique meurt dans des combats près de Syrte - Sahel Intelligence. Frédéric Powelton. 18 March 2015. 22 March 2015.
  9. Web site: Libye: 12 morts dans des combats entre jihadistes de l'EI et miliciens. 22 March 2015.
  10. Web site: ISIS rocket attack kills 5 militiamen in Libya's Sirte. Daily Star. 23 April 2015. 25 March 2015.
  11. Web site: Libye : violents combats entre l'EI et des miliciens de Fajr Libya près de Syrte. L'Orient-Le Jour. 20 May 2015 . 16 August 2015.
  12. Web site: ISIL arm in Libya seizes Sirte airport from Tripoli forces. 29 May 2015 . 16 August 2015.
  13. Web site: Western Officials Alarmed as ISIS Expands Territory in Libya. The New York Times. 18 June 2015. 1 June 2015.
  14. Web site: IS Fight With Gaddafi Group Delays Release of 2 Remaining Indians. https://web.archive.org/web/20150806023131/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/IS-Fight-With-Gaddafi-Group-Delays-Release-of-2-Remaining-Indians/2015/08/05/article2958110.ece. dead. 6 August 2015. The New Indian Express. 16 September 2015.
  15. Andrew Tilghman, Size of ISIS force declining in Iraq and Syria, according to new intel, Military Times (February 4, 2016),
  16. Declan Walsh, Ben Hubbard & Eric Schmitt, U.S. Bombing in Libya Reveals Limits of Strategy Against ISIS, New York Times (February 19, 2016).