Battle of Az Zawiyah

Battle of Az Zawiyah

Battle of Az Zawiyah
Part of 2011 Libyan uprising
Date February 24, 2011 – March 9/10, 2011 Location Az Zawiyah, Libya Result Pro-Gaddafi victory City retaken by loyalist forces.
Belligerents
Anti-Gaddafi Forces Libyan People's Army	Gaddafi Loyalists Military of Libya Paramilitary forces
Commanders and leaders
Col. Hussein Darbouk †	Khamis al-Gaddafi Gen. Muftah Anaqrat † Col. Mohamed Gayth †
Strength
2,000 combatants (by March 4)	Khamis Brigade Hosban Brigade
Casualties and losses
234-247 killed, 300+ wounded, 37 captured, upt to 50 tanks, APCs and SP howitzers destroyed or captured	65 killed, 29-31 captured, 50 wounded, at least 4 T-72 tanks or BMPs and 1 Shilka destroyed

The Battle of Az Zawiyah was a battle during the 2011 Libyan uprising between army units and militiamen loyal to Muammar Gaddafi and anti-Gaddafi forces.

The Battle

It began on February 24, when Libyan troops (under Gaddafi) attacked a mosque where protesters were holding an anti-government sit-in. The troops opened fire with automatic weapons and hit the minaret with an anti-aircraft gun. After the attack, thousands of people rallied in Martyrs' Square by the mosque shouting “Leave! Leave!” On the same day, anti-Gaddafi forces repelled the attack on the city.

On February 26, government forces opened fire on anti-government protesters and Egyptian migrant workers. By this point, most of the city was under rebel control — however, security forces controlled surrounding areas and had set up checkpoints on the outskirts. In addition, some government militia and security forces were still present in the city and at least one tank was seen. 24 rebel fighters were killed during the two previous days of fighting.

On February 28, government troops conducted a counter-attack against the city with 200 soldiers coming in from the east, supported by snipers, tanks and artillery. The first attack came just after midnight when loyalist soldiers tried to come through the eastern city gate in pick-up trucks. The attack was repelled. In the early evening, a second attack of three more trucks tried to break through the west gate. Two of the trucks were destroyed. At the same time, six more pick-ups again attacked the eastern gate. Two were captured by rebel forces. During the clashes one government tank was damaged by a rocket propelled grenade. After six hours of fighting, government troops were unable to reclaim the city. 10 soldiers were killed in the street fighting and 12–14 were captured, of which eight switched sides and joined the rebels.

On the night of March 2, rebel forces attacked government lines around the city killing two loyalist soldiers. By this point, shortages of food and medical supplies in the city had started as a result of the siege.

On March 4, government troops attacked once again bombarding the rebels with mortars, heavy machine guns, anti-aircraft guns and a prolonged artillery barrage coming from at least eight Grad missile launchers. Troops attacked on both sides of the city. In the initial fighting, the rebel forces commander, colonel Hussein Darbouk, was killed along with three more fighters. Later, the casualty toll was raised to "up to 50 dead" and 300 wounded on that day. Two government soldiers were also killed. In the evening, the rebels were pushed back to the central square in Zawiyah, where they were preparing to make a last stand. Government forces claimed to have captured 31 tanks, 19 armored personel carriers and other weapons including rocket-launchers and anti-aircraft guns that were used by the rebels.

By the morning of March 5, pro-Gaddafi soldiers were reported to have been beaten back from the centre of the city, after overnight fighting, however they still controlled the town's entry points. At six in the morning, another assault was underway, which started with a surprise barrage of mortar shells. At 7 a.m., at least 20 tanks entered the city and heavy street fighting started with loyalists storming residential buildings and reportedly killing people inside to secure the rooftoops for snipers. Initially, the rebels retreated to positions deeper in the city and government tanks were seen pouring onto the square. Still, after a few hours, a rebel counteroffensive was launched and loyalist forces were again beaten back from the centre of the city to the city's edge by 10 a.m. During these morning battles, 33 people were reported killed. 25 of them were rebels and eight were pro-Gaddafi soldiers. Five government armored vehicles were destroyed at the square, among them two or three tanks. At 4 p.m. in the afternoon, a third pro-Gaddafi attack commenced, accompanied by an artillery barrage, but it too was repulsed. During this attack, government troops positioned themselves once again at the square and tank and rocket fire was directed at buildings around it, before retreating. However, the loyalists managed to secure the hospital and, because of this, the rebels moved all of their wounded to a makeshift clinic at a mosque. 10 loyalist soldiers were captured during the fighting and later executed in a hotel at the square. During the night, it was confirmed that government tanks were seen roaming the city.

On March 6, a fourth attack in two days was launched against the city centre and it too was repelled. 26 government soldiers and three rebels were reportedly killed and 11 soldiers captured during the latest charge by loyalist troops.

On March 7, at 9 a.m., a fifth attack started and continued well into the afternoon. Government forces had once again managed to take the city's central square and also a nearby mosque.

By March 8, most of the city had been left in ruins with tanks firing in all directions. During the night, rebels had once again taken back the square. However, with dawn, the strongest attack yet came with 50 tanks and 120 pick-ups charging towards the city center. During the evening, a force of 60 rebels slipped out of the city in an attempt to attack a military base 20 kilometres from the city. By the next day, they had not returned and their fate was not known.

On March 9, the city was reported to be 95 percent under loyalist control as rebels retreated from the main square and troops moved in. Later that evening, rebels and a few local witnesses claimed that the rebels had retaken the main square and that the regime's forces were driven back to 1 kilometre from the city centre. 40 opposition members and several loyalists were reported killed during the day's fighting, including a general and a colonel. Nine rebels were killed in the battle for the square. The suburbs of the city had been confirmed as cleared and captured by loyalists after the government bussed journalists to a floodlit stadium where some 300 Gaddafi supporters were celebrating with fireworks.

On March 10, the city was retaken by loyalist forces. Reporters from the London Times and the ITV network reported from the square in Zawiyah where they confirmed it was under government control and clean-up operations were underway. Later, locals confirmed that tanks were lined along the square. The mopping-up operations were focused on smaller remaining pockets of resistance and some street fighting continued during the day.

On March 11, rebels claimed they were still in control in Zawiya. However, just a few hours later, a pro-Gaddafi rally, arranged by the government, was held in the centre of the city, witnessed by 100 foreign journalists, confirming the city was retaken.

References

External links

• Special Report: Rebel-Held Town Under Siege

Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Az_Zawiyah