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Anti-Gaddafi forces

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Anti-Gaddafi forces
The former Libyan flag used during the monarchy (1951–69) had been used by some protesters as an opposition symbol. After the war's conclusion, it once again became the flag of Libya.[1]
ActiveFebruary–October 2011
Country Libya
EngagementsFirst Libyan Civil War

The anti-Gaddafi forces, also known as the Libyan opposition or Libyan rebels, were Libyan groups that opposed and militarily defeated the government of Muammar Gaddafi during the First Libyan Civil War in 2011, killing him in the process. The Anti-Gaddafi forces were represented by the National Transitional Council and their National Liberation Army, which claimed to be the "only legitimate body representing the people of Libya and the Libyan state".[2] These opposition forces included organized and armed militia groups, participants in the Libyan Civil War, Libyan diplomats who switched their allegiance from the Gaddafi-led government, and Libyan military units that switched sides to support the protesters.

Political opposition

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

Armed opposition

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Main articles: National Liberation Army (Libya), Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, and Toubou Front for the Salvation of Libya
Libyan rebels after entering the town of Bani Walid.

Command and control

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On 5 March 2011, opposition forces radio in Benghazi announced the creation of the National Transitional Council, a political body with 33 representatives from most Libyan regions. The Chairman of the Council is Mustafa Abdul Jalil, Abdul Hafiz Ghoga is the Vice-Chairman, and Mahmoud Jibril is the Chairman of the Executive Board. Omar El-Hariri was the head of military affairs until May 2011.[4] Then later that month the position was renamed to Minister of Defense and Jalal al-Digheily was assigned to that position. On 8 August 2011, Jalala along with 14 other members of the Executive Board were fired, and the position left vacant but was reappointed in early October 2011 after continuing in the role of interim defense minister for almost two months.[5]

The Commander-in-Chief was General Abdul Fatah Younis until his death in July 2011. Suleiman Mahmoud, Younis's top lieutenant, replaced him as army commander. Colonel Khalifa Haftar was another top military commander. The army was organized into brigades, with rebel fighters bearing identity cards.[6]

Weapons and vehicles

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The Libyan opposition was mainly using vehicles and weapons captured from government forces or depots. The opposition had 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 showed rebels driving ordinary cars and technicals near battle areas. On 9 March 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."[7] However, two fighter jets defected from Gaddafi and joined the rebels and were used during the Battle of Ajdabiya and damaged an armed oiler tanker and possibly two others. They also gained several helicopters from defected units 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 had also captured a large number of ZU-23-2 and ZPU anti-aircraft guns, as well as rocket-propelled grenades, KPV 14.5×114mm Dshk machine guns, FN FAL, F2000 and AK-47 rifles, and FN MAG, AA-52 and PK machine guns.[8][9][10] Britain sent 5,000 sets of body armor, 6,650 uniforms, and communication equipment to police in rebel-held areas.[11]

In addition to conventional and improvised weapons, there was a surprising amount of sophistication among rebel equipment, with some even fashioning unmanned ground vehicles from remote-controlled toy cars and the like.[12]

Human rights violations

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Further information: Human rights violations in the Libyan civil war

The government of Chad 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 Gaddafi.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mark Tran (17 February 2011). "Bahrain in crisis and Middle East protests – live blog". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  2. ^ "Ferocious Battles in Libya as National Council Meets for First Time". NewsCore (via news.com.au). 6 March 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  3. ^ Libyan Showdown
  4. ^ "The Libyan Interim National Council". ntclibya.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Jibril vows to quit after Libya 'liberation'". Al Jazeera English. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Libyan Rebels Get Organized". Aljazeera.
  7. ^ "Libyan Rebels' Weapons Deficit". International Institute for Strategic Studies.
  8. ^ "Libya's uncertain front lines". Al Jazeera.
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ C.J. Chivers (20 April 2011). "Inferior Arms Hobble Rebels in Libya War". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  11. ^ "Britain providing body armor to rebel police".(1 July 2011). Austin American Statesman. p. A2.
  12. ^ "Libyan rebels built combat robots, remotely operated weapon systems". Innovation News Daily. 15 June 2011.
  13. ^ "Chad says citizens abused in rebel-held Libya". Reuters. 4 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011.
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