Start date October 15, 2014 | Location Benghazi, Libya | |
 | ||
Unknown SCBR 4,500+ (in 2014)
ISIL Several hundred Similar Libyan Civil War, First Battle of Benghazi, Second Gulf of Sidra offe, 2012 Kufra conflict, Tripoli protests and clash | ||
The Battle of Benghazi (2014–present) is one of the battles of the Libyan Civil War of 2014. It is fought since October 2014 between the Islamic Fundamentalist Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries (supported by the LROR and Misrata Brigades), Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya and the Libyan Army, and some people stand with Army into the city. The Battle was a direct consequence of the failed Benina Airport Offensive by the Benghazi Revolutionaries and their Allies, which allowed LNA Forces to regroup and attack deep into Benghazi.
By May 2016, the LNA controlled at least 90% of the City, including Ansar Al-Sharia's main Neighborhood of Al-Laithi, Benghazi University and the Cement Factory.
A number of Benghazi revolutionaries regrouped later on and announced the formation of Benghazi Defense Brigades in June 2016 to support the Shura Council.
Timeline
By 22 June 2016, the LNA captured the Gharyounis district and most of the tourist village at Ganfouda, under the control of Benghazi Shura. On the same day, 11 fighters affiliated with Khalifa Haftar-led Dignity Operation forces were killed and almost 5 others were injured due to clashes with the Benghazi Shura Council, according to a source. In July 2016, Benghazi Defense Brigades had started moving towards the city after capturing many towns and cities west of it. On 17 July, it claimed it had shot down a LNA helicopter. The militia later on 19 July reported that two French special forces troops were possibly among the crew killed in the crash. A day later, French government confirmed that three French special forces soldiers had died in the crash.
By 22–23 July 2016, the Libyan National Army repelled the offensive by the militia and launched a counter-offensive to recapture all territories under control of BDB, capturing several parts of the Gwarsha district by mid-August and offering ceasefire to the militants if they surrendered. On 2 August 2016, a car bomb attack claimed by the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries in a residential district in Guwarsha district of western Benghazi targeting Libyan National Army killed at least 22 and injured another 20 more people.On 30 August 2016, media sources reported five fighters from Dignity Operation were killed and others were injured in fierce clashes when pro-Haftar forces tried to advance into the Al-Yasameen Summer Resort which was captured by Benghazi Shura Council the day before. On 6 September, sources from the Benghazi Shura Council reported Tuesday that four fighters from Dignity Operation forces of Khalifa Haftar were killed and others were wounded by a landmine blast in Gawarcha frontline. On 16 November, the LNA captured Gwarsha Gate, as well as the Gwarsha district on the next day and were besieging fighters from the Benghazi Revolutionary Shura Council in Ganfouda. 23 soldiers were killed in the clashes, while 60 were wounded.
LNA captured over 20 square kilometres of area in Ganfouda by 20 November, with Shura-held territory being reduced to less than 6 square kilometres. A mufti of the Shura Council was also killed in the clashes. On 22 November, LNA started shelling Sabri and Suq al-Hout in preparation for a future offensive to retake the two districts. On 30 November, it launched an assault on Ganfouda, with tanks attacking from the west, while soldiers advanced across the whole perimeter and naval forces bombarded from offshore. It had captured about 90% of the district by this point and had destroyed the last tank of the Shura.
On 21 December 2016, an ISIL suicide bomber killed eight troops in fighting near Benghazi, media reports said.
On 5 January 2017, ISIL militants operating in Benghazi decided to flee the city after more than 2 years of clashes. There were conflicting reports about the reasons behind it. The Shura council said all the militants in Al-Sabri and Qanfouda districts were given a safe corridor by LNA to leave from the western gate of the city, while LNA claimed that the fighters had secretly escaped. The Shura council also stated that it had taken control of the districts and areas that were earlier under the group's control. 13 pro-LNA fighters were reportedly killed as the group withdrew, according to media sources. 2 ISIL fighters were also reportedly killed in the clashed, while another 2 were captured.
LNA stated on 6 January that the captured spokesman of the Shura Council confirmed that Wissam Ben Hamid, the leader of the pro-Shura groups, was killed in an airstrike in December 2016.
On 15 January 2017, Benghazi Shura Council fighters shot down a MiG 23 warplane of LNA.. On 16 January 2017, pro-Haftar forces retook the Abu Sneib district in the city from Benghazi Shura Council militants after two days of fighting. A commanding officer stated that around 52 troops had died in fighting since January 1 in and around Benghazi. LNA made gains around the Ganfouda district on 23 January. On 25 January 2017, LNA captured the Gandoufa district and stated that the remaining militants had fled to an area known as "12 Blocks". An LNA commander, told broadcaster Libya Channel that their forces have freed more than 60 people from captivity, following the fighting.
On 27 January 2017, the remnants of jihadists in the "12 Block" pocket were defeated by the LNA. On 1 and 2 February 2017, 9 LNA soldiers were killed while clearing the "12 Blocks" area. The "12 Blocks" area was reported to have been fully secured on 2 February.
On 23 February 2017, three LNA soldiers and at least two jihadists were killed during fighting in Ganfouda district. Meanwhile, an army source said that the LNA now controls seven of the 12 apartment blocks in an area known as '12 Blocks'.
On 26 February 2017, a car bomb exploded in Al-Hawari district, killing two Dignity Operation soldiers and injuring four others, local sources said.