Following large scale protests across the country, what would soon become part of the organized opposition in Libya gained control over most of the Nafusa mountains. Gharyan was soon captured by the rebels[4] however as part of the offensive to retake control of Libya from the rebels, Gaddafi quickly dispatched units to regain control. During the night between the 1 and 2 March, loyalist forces came into the town, under the cover of darkness.[citation needed] On the morning of 2 March, the rebels realised that the town was overrun by government troops. Soldiers had a list of opposition members and started to round up all of the rebels in Gharyan. Gharyan had been retaken by the government.[5]
Following the defeat of Gaddafi forces in Yafran and Kikla, rebel forces began to make preparations for an attack on Gharyan. On 6 July, Rebels captured Al-Qawalish and advanced on Asabah. However a Gaddafi counterattack was able to hold them back and temporarily recaptured Al-Qawalish.[citation needed]
The battle
On 13 August, rebel forces attacked Gharyan. It was reported that the rebels were initially successful as Gaddafi forces retreated, however they later regrouped and attacked.[6] On 14 August, the Rebels stated that they controlled "70 percent" of the city.[7] A fighter in Al-Qawalish said he heard that loyalist troops were retreating from Gharyan.[8] On 15 August, the rebels claimed they had "full control" of the city.[9][10] A spokesman for the rebel military council in the Nafusa Mountains asserted, "Gharyan is fully in the hands of the revolutionaries. They crushed the Sahban Brigade, the main command center for Gaddafi in the Western Mountains. They took the brigade's heavy and light weapons."[11]
On 16 August, governmental spokesman Moussa Ibrahim stated that governmental troops would soon retake Gharyan, implicitly supporting the rebel account that Gharyan had been taken.[12][13]Reuters confirmed that Gharyan was in rebel hands, with rebel forces positioned in the city centre with a T-34 tank.[14]
On 17 August, continued fighting in the city was reported.[15]
On 18 August, loyalists fully withdrew from the city, which was confirmed by a Reuters correspondent. The loyalists had retreated north to 'Aziziya.[16][17]
Aftermath
On 15 August, rebels claimed to have moved south from Gharyan after the battle, and taken the military base of Mizda, gaining access to the Libyan Army's military supplies stored there.[18] Mizda lies near a strategic junction between roads to Gharyan, Bani Walid, and Sabha.
References
^ ab"UN clears way for Libyan no-fly zone". ABC News. 18 Mar 2011.
^Siddique, Haroon; Owen, Paul (15 August 2011). "Mubarak on trial: Middle East live – Monday 15 August 2011". The Guardian. London.
^Joy Greets Rebels in Garrison Town Near Libya Capital
^. Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
^Yuboco, Adeline (2 March 2011). "Pro and Anti-Gaddafi groups battle for strategic towns in Libya". Digital Journal. Tripoli. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
^"Gaddafi defiant as rebels claim gains in west". Al Jazeera. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
^Al Jazeera Libya Live Blog. August 14, 2011 - 18:38 Entry
^Lowe, Christian (14 August 2011). . Reuters Africa. Al-Qawalish. Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
^"Qaddafi Defiant As Libyan Rebels Enter Key Towns Near Tripoli". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
^. Radio Netherlands. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
^Georgy, Michael (15 August 2011). "Rebels say Tripoli encircled; Gaddafi defiant". Reuters. Zawiya. from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
^"Rebels say they are just 50km from Tripoli". The National. Zawiya. Agence France-Presse. 16 August 2011. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
^Beatty, Andrew; Bar, Herve (16 August 2011). . iAfrica.com. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
^Laessing, Ulf (18 August 2011). . Reuters Africa. Gharayan. Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
^Fahim, Kareem (18 August 2011). "Libyan Rebels Gain Control of Oil Refinery as Qaddafi Forces Flee". The New York Times. Zawiya. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
battle, gharyan, part, nafusa, mountains, campaigndate13, august, 2011locationgharyan, libyacoordinates, 16972, 01667, 16972, 01667resultanti, gaddafi, victorybelligerents, libya, anti, gaddafi, forces, national, liberation, armyunsc, resolution, 1973, forces,. Battle of GharyanPart of the Nafusa Mountains campaignDate13 18 August 2011LocationGharyan LibyaCoordinates 32 10 11 N 13 01 00 E 32 16972 N 13 01667 E 32 16972 13 01667ResultAnti Gaddafi victoryBelligerents Libya Anti Gaddafi forces National Liberation ArmyUNSC Resolution 1973 forces 1 NATO air forces 1 Libya Armed forces of the Libyan Arab JamahiriyaCommanders and leadersUnknownUnknownStrength5 000Sabhan Brigade 2 400Casualties and losses35 killed 3 Unknown The Battle of Gharyan was a battle in the Libyan Civil War between rebel anti Gaddafi forces and forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi for control of the Tripolitanian city of Gharyan located at the eastern edge of the Nafusa Mountains Contents 1 Background 2 The battle 3 Aftermath 4 ReferencesBackground EditSee also 2011 Nafusa Mountain Campaign and Second Battle of Zawiya Following large scale protests across the country what would soon become part of the organized opposition in Libya gained control over most of the Nafusa mountains Gharyan was soon captured by the rebels 4 however as part of the offensive to retake control of Libya from the rebels Gaddafi quickly dispatched units to regain control During the night between the 1 and 2 March loyalist forces came into the town under the cover of darkness citation needed On the morning of 2 March the rebels realised that the town was overrun by government troops Soldiers had a list of opposition members and started to round up all of the rebels in Gharyan Gharyan had been retaken by the government 5 Following the defeat of Gaddafi forces in Yafran and Kikla rebel forces began to make preparations for an attack on Gharyan On 6 July Rebels captured Al Qawalish and advanced on Asabah However a Gaddafi counterattack was able to hold them back and temporarily recaptured Al Qawalish citation needed The battle EditOn 13 August rebel forces attacked Gharyan It was reported that the rebels were initially successful as Gaddafi forces retreated however they later regrouped and attacked 6 On 14 August the Rebels stated that they controlled 70 percent of the city 7 A fighter in Al Qawalish said he heard that loyalist troops were retreating from Gharyan 8 On 15 August the rebels claimed they had full control of the city 9 10 A spokesman for the rebel military council in the Nafusa Mountains asserted Gharyan is fully in the hands of the revolutionaries They crushed the Sahban Brigade the main command center for Gaddafi in the Western Mountains They took the brigade s heavy and light weapons 11 On 16 August governmental spokesman Moussa Ibrahim stated that governmental troops would soon retake Gharyan implicitly supporting the rebel account that Gharyan had been taken 12 13 Reuters confirmed that Gharyan was in rebel hands with rebel forces positioned in the city centre with a T 34 tank 14 On 17 August continued fighting in the city was reported 15 On 18 August loyalists fully withdrew from the city which was confirmed by a Reuters correspondent The loyalists had retreated north to Aziziya 16 17 Aftermath EditOn 15 August rebels claimed to have moved south from Gharyan after the battle and taken the military base of Mizda gaining access to the Libyan Army s military supplies stored there 18 Mizda lies near a strategic junction between roads to Gharyan Bani Walid and Sabha References Edit a b UN clears way for Libyan no fly zone ABC News 18 Mar 2011 Siddique Haroon Owen Paul 15 August 2011 Mubarak on trial Middle East live Monday 15 August 2011 The Guardian London Joy Greets Rebels in Garrison Town Near Libya Capital Protests continue in Liberated Gharyan Archived from the original on 2012 03 12 Retrieved 2011 03 25 Yuboco Adeline 2 March 2011 Pro and Anti Gaddafi groups battle for strategic towns in Libya Digital Journal Tripoli Retrieved 25 March 2011 Gaddafi defiant as rebels claim gains in west Al Jazeera 14 August 2011 Retrieved 20 November 2011 Al Jazeera Libya Live Blog August 14 2011 18 38 Entry Lowe Christian 14 August 2011 UPDATE 1 Libyan rebels say they attack town south of Tripoli Reuters Africa Al Qawalish Reuters Archived from the original on 26 September 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2011 Qaddafi Defiant As Libyan Rebels Enter Key Towns Near Tripoli Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty 15 August 2011 Retrieved 15 August 2011 Fighting rages in Libya amid parley reports Radio Netherlands 15 August 2011 Archived from the original on 17 October 2012 Retrieved 15 August 2011 Georgy Michael 15 August 2011 Rebels say Tripoli encircled Gaddafi defiant Reuters Zawiya Archived from the original on 16 August 2011 Retrieved 15 August 2011 Rebels say they are just 50km from Tripoli The National Zawiya Agence France Presse 16 August 2011 Archived from the original on 19 September 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2011 Beatty Andrew Bar Herve 16 August 2011 Victory nigh for rebels iAfrica com Agence France Presse Archived from the original on 23 March 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2011 Laessing Ulf 18 August 2011 Libya rebels take Garyan south of Tripoli witness Reuters Africa Gharayan Reuters Archived from the original on 26 September 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2011 Fahim Kareem 18 August 2011 Libyan Rebels Gain Control of Oil Refinery as Qaddafi Forces Flee The New York Times Zawiya Retrieved 20 November 2011 Laessing Ulf Bell Yvonne 18 August 2011 WRAPUP 6 Libyan rebels seize refinery eye Tripoli Reuters UK Zawiya Reuters Retrieved 20 November 2011 Valdmanis Richard 18 August 2011 Rebel pays price in fight for Libyan town Reuters Africa Reuters Archived from the original on 26 September 2012 Retrieved 20 November 2011 16 56 15 August entry at Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Gharyan amp oldid 1139523413, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
