From the gates of Tripoli to the downfall, timeline of battles in Libya for 2020

Category: Post WW2

Kostas Chalastras

May 6, 2024

From the gates of Tripoli to the downfall: Chronology of battles in Libya for 2020

Category: Post WW2

From the gates of Tripoli to the downfall, timeline of battles in Libya for 2020

Kostas Chalastras

May 6, 2024

Since April 4, 2019, the armed forces of the House of Representatives, the Libyan National Army (LNA), announced Operation ‘Flood of Dignity.’ The objective, led by LNA commander Khalifa Haftar, was to capture Tripoli and essentially end the civil war in Libya. Tripoli was controlled by the Government of National Accord (GNA), while LNA forces were supported primarily by the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Egypt with military equipment. The GNA was backed by Turkey and Qatar with military equipment, Syrian mercenaries, and financial aid. The role of the private military company Wagner, supporting the LNA, was predominantly discreet but clearly represented Russian interests in post-civil war Libya, whatever they may be.

Since December 2019, Syrian/Turkmen mercenaries began arriving in Libya to support the GNA in Tripoli. These men, veterans of the Syrian civil war, belong to organizations such as Faylaq al Sham, ‘Division Mu’tasim,’ Suqour al Sham brigades, ‘Division Hamza,’ and primarily Turkmen brigades ‘Division Sultan Murad’ and ‘Division Suleiman Shah,’ operating under the umbrella of the Syrian National Army (SNA).

The battles took place on three main fronts: 1) in the southern outskirts of Tripoli and in Tarhuna, 2) to the west in the cities of Sabratha/Sorman/Zawiya, north of the significant military base Al Watiya, and 3) in Sirte, heading towards Abu Qurayn. The following informative maps are from the Twitter account/Suriyak.

In early January, the situation in Tripoli was characterized by seizures and counter-seizures of points on the outskirts of the city, with small advances overall for the LNA. On January 6, the LNA achieved one of its greatest successes in this campaign by capturing Sirte, gaining access to valuable oil pipelines. The capture occurred following negotiations, coordination, and a change in allegiance of the defenders of the city, Brigade 604.

This unit, composed of Salafists, particularly of Madkhalism, would play a significant role during the GNA’s counteroffensive in the summer of the same year. Considerable weaponry of various kinds, including some tanks and other vehicles, fell into the hands of the LNA. The advance continued the next day towards Abu Qurayn but was lost after two days following a GNA counterattack, leaving it at Al Qantara. Since then, despite the LNA’s persistent efforts, there have been no significant changes in the frontline in this area.

In Tripoli, the situation remained stable with minimal territorial gains for the LNA. By the end of February, the situation remained static with both sides experiencing roughly equal losses, although the Tripoli government suffered slightly larger losses in heavy vehicles. In the air, by the end of February, the opponents had lost 2 and 5 UAVs, LNA and GNA respectively, while the former also lost the first Pantsir-S1 system.

In March, the LNA resumed operations in the suburbs of Tripoli with a slight advance in the Ramla neighborhood and Ain Zara by the 106th Brigade, led by Haftar’s son, Khaled. These attacks continued until the end of the month. On March 26, the GNA launched a counterattack, managing to retake a few points. On the same day, they initiated Operation ‘Storm of Peace’ with the aim of capturing the significant base of Al Watiya. Initially, they had partial success, probably due to surprise, but the LNA, with a counterattack, not only repelled the enemy forces but also advanced northward. With these actions, they brought under their control the towns of Al Jumail, Rigdalin, Al Assah, and Zaltan, reaching the outskirts of the Tunisia/Libya border and thereby isolating the coastal town of Zuwarah. This point perhaps marks the zenith of the LNA’s overall advance in the effort for dominance.

A new attack by Haftar’s forces on the Sirte-Misrata axis at Abu Qurayn on March 27, initially successful, ended in a retreat from all points captured. On the 30th of the same month, the LNA achieved a small success in Tripoli.

*The GNA’s operation ‘Spring Storm’ and the LNA’s counterattack. Source: Twitter/Suriyak.*

April began with a GNA counterattack in the Tripoli area, which reclaimed all the territorial gains made by the opponent in the Ramla neighborhood during March in that sector. On the 13th of the month, the LNA reached the Rabush Abu Salim road, just about 9.5 kilometers from the port of Tripoli. This marked the swan song of the LNA. From this point onwards, for approximately two months, it would remain mostly on the defensive, witnessing the provinces that were gained being ‘eroded.’ On the same day, April 13, the GNA launched a strong attack towards the city of Soumman on two axes. After a few hours, they managed to capture the towns of Sabria, Amboesa, and Soumman.

Despite the concentration of LNA forces from the 128th and 134th Brigades in Sabratha, they were forced to withdraw from the city, abandoning 6 tanks, MLRS, and abundant other material. With the complete collapse in this sector, Haftar lost everything he had gained two and a half weeks ago, as well as what he held, and was completely cut off from the coast, while opening up a communication corridor between the government of Tripoli and Tunisia. Additionally, the GNA had transitioned to the offensive, with battles from April 20th to May 3rd providing a slight advance towards the military base of Hamza, northwest of Tripoli. In the northeast, in Tarhuna, a major operation also commenced on the 18th of the month, capturing 5 towns/villages, two of which were lost due to an LNA counterattack.

*Images of military equipment left behind by the LNA in early June with the collapse of the front.*

From May 4th to May 17th, the adversaries engaged in fierce battles in Ramla, northeast of the Tripoli front, where LNA forces managed partial reclamation of lost ground and demonstrated they still held the front. In Al-Watiya, however, they sought to hold the military base against continuous attacks, which they successfully achieved, even retaking a city, Al-Aqrabiyah. Yet, on May 18th, the GNA ultimately succeeded in entering and seizing the base. Afterward, they continued their offensive southward, with the LNA steadily retreating and negotiating with local tribes to enter their cities, as the region was increasingly semi-autonomous. During this period, most Pantsir-S1 AA systems were destroyed, only while inactive.

On May 22nd, the LNA retreated in Tripoli, significantly in the northeastern sector, losing considerable territory for this conflict, where every square meter counted. They lost an area 2.5 kilometers long and 1 kilometer deep, including critical points like the Tkbal Camp. The following day, the withdrawal extended further in the northern sector, as the Hamza Camp, Yarmouk Camp, and an artillery base were abandoned, revealing clear fractures in the LNA’s ranks. On the same day, the GNA reached outside the Tripoli International Airport, where intense battles occurred for at least a week, resulting in substantial losses for both sides.

*Captured Turkish-made ACV-15 armored combat vehicles sent to GNA forces in the outskirts of Tripoli.*

Ultimately, by May 30th, they secured part of the runway, and by June 3rd, the entire airport and surrounding neighborhoods, ending the 14-month siege of Tripoli while also capturing Tarhuna. From June 3rd to June 6th, the LNA abandoned all positions chaotically, leading to a snowball effect retreat, effectively concluding the siege, while Tarhuna fell. The material left behind by the LNA was vast, including dozens of battle tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters, artillery pieces, and various equipment left untouched. Within three days, the Tobruk forces lost more than they had since the campaign’s beginning. There are even greater estimates for the losses, although these are based on Turkish sources.

The GNA launched a new operation called “Pathways of Victory” to capture Sirte and Jufra and exploit the momentum of victory. After several hours of battle, the GNA managed to break through the first line of defense and took control of the towns of Mintaqat al Bagla, Al-Washkah, and Buwayrat al Ḩasun. On the same day, they reached the outskirts of Sirte and launched attacks from two sides, the western entrance of the city and the southern one. Some units managed to enter the city, but a counterattack by reorganized units of the LNA, along with the 604th Brigade of the city and air support, neutralized them. The counterattack pushed the enemy forces at least 30 kilometers further west.

The GNA attack on Sirte on June 6th.
Source: Twitter/Suriyak

The following days passed without significant changes on the front until June 11, with sporadic clashes and artillery exchanges. On July 4, unrecognized warplanes, likely Dassault Mirage 2000 from the UAE, carried out a raid on the Al Watiya base. A GNA official in Tripoli acknowledged that the airstrikes destroyed 3 MIM-23 Hawk systems (some sources also reported hits on Koral electronic warfare systems, though there are no photos yet), possibly the most significant loss of military equipment to enemy action in recent years since the downing of an F-4 Phantom fighter in Syria on June 22, 2012.

The GNA’s victory was clearly achieved with substantial assistance from Turkey in both material and morale support. Credit is given to Erdogan, who facilitated everything through an air bridge passing between Cyprus and Greece and then west-southwest of Crete, beyond what was transported by sea. The situation remains tense, with both sides constantly being armed by their “sponsors,” and a new round of conflict appearing highly likely in the near future.

LNA lost confirmed 71 Main Battle Tanks (T-55/62/72), 44 IFV/APC (infantry fighting vehicle/armoured personnel carrier-Panthera, BTR, BRDM, BMP, GAZ Tigr, Typhoon Spartan,Nimr, Mbombe, Al Mared, LT-79,Ratel,Humvee), 64 Jeep/TOYOTA Technicals, 16 artillery pieces ((D-20, Palmaria, BM-21 Grad launchers, mortars), 10 UAV (Orlan-10, Wing Loong, Orbiter-1k, Zala 421-16), 8 AA (Pantsir-S1), 23 Aircraft, helicopters (Su-22, Mirage F1, Mi-17/35, AW-190) *most of the aircraft/helicopters were non-operational.

On the other hand Gna lost confirmed 8 MBT (T-55/62/72), 26 IFV/APC (BMP, BTR, 9M123 Khrizantema-S, BMC Vuran, Kirpi, Panthera) 18 Jeep,TOYOTA technicals, EE-9 Cascavel, 21 UAV (TB2 Bayraktar, Mini Uav Bayraktar, Kargu, IAI Harop), 3 artillery pieces (ΒΜ-21, Palmaria), 1 fighter, 3 AA (MIM-23 Hawk)

Sources:

Twitter Accounts: