Second Battle of Bin Jawad explained

Conflict:Second Battle of Bin Jawad
Partof:Second Gulf of Sidra offensive
Date:23–27 August 2011
Place:Bin Jawad, Libya
Result:Anti-Gaddafi victory
Combatant1: National Transitional Council
Combatant2: Gaddafi Loyalists
Commander1:Col. Hamid Hassy
Commander2: Muammar Gaddafi
Casualties1:20 dead[1]
Casualties2:unknown

The Second Battle of Bin Jawad took place during the Libyan Civil War between forces loyal to former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and those loyal to the National Transitional Council for control of the small town of Bin Jawad.

The battle

NTC forces managed to advance to the outskirts of Bin Jawad on 23 August after retaking Brega and Ra's Lanuf the previous day, but were unable to progress further due to heavy loyalist resistance in the area.[2]

On 24 August, a heavy loyalist artillery bombardment caused the rebels to retreat 20 km from Bin Jawad to Sidra.[3] NTC troops regrouped and counter-attacked, but the loyalists ambushed the advancing NTC forces once again at Bin Jawad, in an echo of an earlier defeat in March. Twenty rebel fighters died in the clashes, with an undetermined number of loyalist casualties.[4]

The next day, forces loyal to the NTC pulled back to Ra's Lanuf out of loyalist artillery range, and prepared for another advance along the coast towards Bin Jawad and their ultimate objective, Sirte.[5]

On 27 August, another advance began towards Bin Jawad, this time successfully dislodging the loyalist troops who retreated to Sirte, and Bin Jawad fell entirely to the NTC Army.[6]

Rebel forces began advancing towards Sirte the next day.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Libya: the battle for control of Sirte. 21 January 2012. Rob. Crilly. Ra's Lanuf. The Telegraph. 25 August 2011.
  2. News: Rebels stuck at Bin Jawad on way to Gaddafi hometown. Ahram Online. 21 January 2012. 24 August 2011. Agence France-Presse.
  3. Web site: Libya - Aug 25, 2011 - 03:52. Al Jazeera Blogs. 21 November 2014.
  4. http://www.pleasenews.com/nato-helps-in-hunt-for-qaddafi-as-rebels-gain-momentum NATO Helps in Hunt for Qaddafi as Rebels Gain Momentum
  5. Web site: Hundreds of dead bodies found at Tripoli hospital. citifmonline. 21 November 2014.
  6. Web site: Guardian Live Blog. Ben Quinn. the Guardian. 21 November 2014.
  7. Web site: Libya - Aug 28, 2011 - 21:41. Al Jazeera Blogs. 21 November 2014.