Airstrikes on Zintan Airport
| Airstrikes on Zintan Airport | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Second Libyan Civil War | |
| Type | Airstrike |
| Location | |
| Planned by |  Misrata Brigades Fajr Libya |
| Target | Zintan Airport, Downtown Zintan |
| Date | 17 February; 24 March; 1 April; 23 April 2015 |
| Executed by | Fajr Libya |
| Semi-successful | |
| Casualties | Unknown |
In 2015, a series of aerial assaults were conducted on the town of Zintan (located in western Libya) during a period of heightened tension and conflict between rival factions in the country. The attacks, allegedly carried out by militias aligned with the Libya Dawn coalition, targeted the town which was known for its support of the government based in Tobruk.
17 February 2015
[edit]Libya Dawn militias reportedly initiated the attacks on Zintan, targeting an airstrip and another location in the city. These strikes were seen as a possible response to Egyptian air raids in the region.[1] The assault led to the cancellation of various flights scheduled to depart from Zintan's airport, carrying Egyptian and Libyan citizens for their safety. Two or three MiG 23 jets, believed to be remnants from Gaddafi's air force, were allegedly used in the operation.[2][3]
The first airstrike, around noon, damaged the edge of the town's runway. The second strike, four hours later, hit the town center. Authorities in Zintan reported damage to the runway.[4]
24 March 2015
[edit]Another incident occurred on March 24, when the Libyan Dawn coalition had bombed Zintans airport. Forces aligned with the Tobruk-based government had claimed to have shot down a warplane flown by Libya Dawn. However, the Tripoli Administration had reported that the plane crashed due to technical difficulties.[5] The Zintan airport spokesman, Omar Matooq, reported that two pilots of the downed jet were found, with one found dead due to burns, and the other pilot arrested.[6]
1 April 2015
[edit]On April 1, an unidentified warplane conducted airstrikes on the airport in Zintan. The strike, which damaged a passenger terminal, was attributed by a military source to Libya Dawn.[7][8] The following day, similar attacks occurred, with Zintan airport once again targeted by airstrikes, and the nearby town of Al-Rajban also facing bombardment.[9][10]
23 April 2015
[edit]On April 23, a Libya Dawn warplane conducted airstrikes on Zintan's airport, causing damage to a passenger terminal, and destroying an airfield control tower. The strike coincided with a separate attack on the town of Rujban, with some claiming the strikes were conducted from Mitiga Airport.[11][12]
References
[edit]- ^ Kirkpatrick, David D. (2015-02-18). "Islamist Faction in Libya Now Strikes From the Sky". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ "Militias respond to Egyptian airstrikes, attack Libyan airport - Dailynewsegypt". 2015-02-18. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ ""فجر ليبيا" تشن غارة جوّية على مطار الزنتان - بوابة أفريقيا الإخبارية". www.afrigatenews.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ Ash, Nigel (2015-02-17). "Dawn launches airstrikes on Zintan". LibyaHerald. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ "Libya Dawn plane shot down by forces loyal to Tobruk". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ Ash, Nigel (2015-03-23). "LNA "shoots down" Libya Dawn MiG 23". LibyaHerald. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ "Air strikes hit airport in Libyan town, military blames rival armed group". www.elEconomista.com. 1 April 2015.
- ^ "غارة جوية على مطار الزنتان غرب ليبيا وقتلى بمصراتة". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ "Unknown warplane conducts airstrike on Libyan airport". Arab News. 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ "غارات على مطار الزنتان في غرب ليبيا والجيش يحمل "فجر ليبيا" المسؤولية". AlQuds (in Arabic).
- ^ Ash, Nigel (2015-04-23). "Libya Dawn airstrike wrecks Zintan airfield control tower". LibyaHerald. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ "مقاتلات "فجر ليبيا" تقصف الزنتان". سكاي نيوز عربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-02-22.