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Anti-gaddafi Forces Information

The anti-Gaddafi forces are Libyan groups opposed to the government of Muammar Gaddafi. These opposition forces include organised groups, participants in the 2011 Libyan civil war, Libyan diplomats that no longer support the Gaddafi-led government and Libyan military units that have switched sides to support the protestors.

Contents

Libyan opposition

Main article: Libyan opposition
This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be and removed. (March 2011)

The following is a list of groups who self-proclaimed opposition to the rule of Gadaffi:

Armed forces

Main article: Free Libyan Army

Command and Control

On Saturday, 5 March 2011, opposition forces radio in Benghazi announced the creation of a temporary governing body, the (since renamed) Interim Transitional National Council of Libya, a group with 31 representatives from most Libyan regions. They announced the leader of the Council is Former Justice Minister Mustafa Abdeljeleel. They also announced a military council and a military representative, Omar El-Hariri. Mahmood Jibril and Ali Al Issawi are responsible for foreign affairs and international liaison.[3][4] The acting spokesman for the present governing body is Mustafa Gheriani.[5]

The uppermost military commander is General Abdul Fatah Younis.[6] However, General Khalifa Hifter has recently claimed top leadership. [7] The army is organized into brigades, with rebel fighters bearing identity cards. [8]

Weapons and vehicles

The Libyan opposition is mainly using vehicles and weapons captured from government forces or depots. So far, the opposition has only had access to T-55 tanks and a very small amount of T-72 tanks captured during the Second Battle of Benghazi. News coverage commonly shows rebels driving ordinary cars and technicals near battle areas. On March 9, 2011, a report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies said: “Apart from a few mechanized units in Benghazi and Tobruk, and a few armored battalions near Bayda, rebel-controlled areas lack any substantial hardware with which to take on the pro-Gaddafi stronghold of Tripoli."[9] However, recently two fighter jets defected from Gaddafi and joined the rebels and were used during the Battle of Ajdabiya and damaged a armed oiler tanker and possibly two others. They also have gained several helicopters from defected units are based in Benghazi, these aircraft forming the Free Libyan Air Force. One of these aircraft, a Soviet-made MiG-23BN, was shown having been shot down in a friendly fire incident over Benghazi after it was mistaken for an enemy aircraft.

They have also captured a large number of ZU-23-2 and ZPU anti-aircraft guns, as well as rocket propelled grenades, FN FAL and AK-47 rifles, and FN MAG and PK machine guns.[10] Some Libyan rebels also use older weapons such as German MP40 submachine guns and Soviet DP28 automatic rifles.[11]

Parts of Libya held by anti-Gaddafi forces

The Libyan opposition, at its height, was reported to be in control of most towns and cities in Cyrenaica and central coastal Libya.[12][13][14] As of 23 February 2011, it was reported that the Gaddafi government's control had been reduced to a few parts of Tripoli and the southern desert town of Sabha. Although they control most of the north and east of the country they do not control the capital, Tripoli, which is also in the north.[15]

Cities and towns reported to be under control of anti-Gaddafi forces, listed alphabetically:[16][17]

Brigadier Dawood Issa Al Qafsi who defected to the opposition, announced that the eastern towns of Braiga, Bisher, Ogaila, Sultan and Zwaitina are under opposition control as well.[19]

Claims of human rights violations against alleged mercenaries

Further information: Human rights violations by Anti-Gaddafi Forces

The government of Chad has asked the NATO coalition forces to protect its citizens in rebel-held areas of Libya. The Chadian government claims that dozens of its citizens have been executed after being accused of being mercenaries for Gadaffi.[20]

References

  1. ^ Janathan S. Landay, Warren P. Strobel and Arwa Ibrahim (18 February 2011). "Violent repression of protests rocks Libya, Bahrain, Yemen". The Kansas City Star. http://www.kansascity.com/2011/02/18/2666087/violent-repression-of-protests.html. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  2. ^ Mark Tran (17 February 2011). "Bahrain in crisis and Middle East protests – live blog". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/feb/17/bahrain-crisis-middle-east-protests-live-blog#block-20. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  3. ^ "Council Members". Interim Transitional National Council of Libya. http://ntclibya.org/english/council-members/. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Opposition holds back onslaught as government declares victories". CNN. 6 March 2011. http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/06/libya.conflict/index.html?hpt=T1.
  5. ^ Shadid, Anthony; Fahim, Kareem (8 March 2011). "Opposition in Libya Struggles to Form a United Front". NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/world/africa/09rebels.html?_r=1&hp.
  6. ^ "Libya: Rebels under attack as UN mulls no-fly zone". BBC News. 14 March 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12731079.
  7. ^ Nordland, Rod (19 April 2011). "British Aid". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/world/africa/20benghazi.html?partner=rss&emc=rss.
  8. ^ "Libyan Rebels Get Organized". Aljazeera. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2011/04/201141942947854663.html.
  9. ^ "Libyan Rebels' Weapons Deficit". International Institute for Strategic Studies. http://www.iiss.org/whats-new/iiss-voices/?blogpost=146.
  10. ^ "Libya's uncertain front lines". Al Jazeera. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/20113234914145322.html.
  11. ^ C.J. Chivers (20 April 2011). "Inferior Arms Hobble Rebels in Libya War". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/world/africa/21rebels.html?_r=2&ref=world. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  12. ^ "Gaddafi defiant as state teeters - Africa". Al Jazeera English. 2011-02-23. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/20112235434767487.html. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
  13. ^ "BBC News - Middle East and North Africa unrest". Bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
  14. ^ "Libyan minister quits, diplomat claims genocide". Sify.com. http://www.sify.com/news/libyan-minister-quits-diplomat-claims-genocide-news-international-lcxqOkhhadb.html. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
  15. ^ "Pressure mounts on isolated Gaddafi". BBC News. 23 February 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12550719. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
  16. ^ "Gaddafi defiant as state teeters - Africa". Al Jazeera English. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/20112235434767487.html. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  17. ^ a b "BBC News - Libya unrest". Bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  18. ^ CNN North Africa Mideast unrest blog
  19. ^ Live Blog - Libya March 1 | Al Jazeera Blogs
  20. ^ "Chad says citizens abused in rebel-held Libya". Reuters. 4 April 2011. http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE73303S20110404.

External links

Libya portal
· · 2011 Libyan civil war
Part of Arab Spring · Timeline
Forces

Anti-Gaddafi forces (Free Libyan Army – Free Libyan Air Force – NCLO) • Military of Libya (Libyan Army – Libyan Air Force – Libyan Navy) • Revolutionary Guard Corps
Battles and operations

First Battle of Benghazi • Tripoli clashes • Battle of Misrata • Battle of Az Zawiyah • Nafusa Mountains • First Battle of Brega • Battle of Ra's Lanuf • Battle of Bin Jawad • Second Battle of Brega • Second Battle of Benghazi • Battle of Ajdabiya • Late March rebel offensive • Third Battle of Brega • Battle of Brega–Ajdabiya road • East Libyan Desert Campaign • Battle of Wazzin

Operation Ellamy • Operation Odyssey Dawn • Opération Harmattan • Operation Mobile • Operation Unified Protector
Places Bab al-Azizia • Green Square • Maydan al-Shajara
People

Muammar Gaddafi • Saif al-Islam Muammar Al-Gaddafi • Mustafa Mohamed Abud Al Jeleil • Abdul Fatah Younis • Hafiz Ghoga • Hussein Sadiq al Musrati • Mohammed El Senussi • Idris bin Abdullah al-Senussi • Fathi Terbil • Mohammed Nabbous • Mahmoud Jibril • Khalifa Belqasim Haftar • Ali Tarhouni • Ali Abd-al-Aziz al-Isawi • Iman al-Obeidi
Impact

International reactions • Domestic responses (Gaddafi government response) • Casualties • Human rights violations
Related

National Transitional Council • Abu Salim Prison • Fist Crushing a U.S. Fighter Plane • People's Hall, Tripoli • Topple the Tyrants • United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 • United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 ( International reactions to the intervention – Protests against the intervention – US domestic reactions to the intervention ) • Zenga Zenga • Voice of Free Libya
Italics denote operations or battles related to the UN intervention in Libya Category

Categories: Politics of Libya | Protests in Libya | 2011 in Libya | 2011 Libyan civil war

 

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