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Battle of Misrata

Battle of Misrata
Part of the Libyan Civil War
Battle of Misrata.svg
Changes in frontlines during the Battle of Misrata
Date 18 February – 15 May 2011
Location Misrata, Libya
Result

Anti-Gaddafi victory

  • Rebels take full control of the entire city.
  • Port reopens after it was partially closed due to artillery fire and mines from 29 April to 9 May
  • All of the city's public utilities shut down
  • Rebels advance to Dafniya, west of Misrata, and the outskirts of Tawergha, south of Misrata
Belligerents

Libya Anti-Gaddafi forces

United Nations UNSC Resolution 1973 forces

Libya Armed forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Commanders and leaders
Libya Ibrahim Baitulmal
Libya Nuri Abdullah Abdul latif
Libya Salah Badi
Libya Ali Attalah Obeidi 
Libya Khamis Gaddafi (from 12 March)
Libya Nabih Zayid
Libya Albarrani Shkal
Strength
3,000–5,000

Hamza Brigade (initially)
Khamis Brigade (since 12 March)

  • 8,000
Casualties and losses
1,215 killed*
900 missing or captured**
4,000 wounded
at least 1 tank destroyed

358 killed
150-230 captured
20 T-72 tanks, 4 T-55 tanks, 2 BMPs, 1 Shilka, 3 APCs and 1 IMR-2 destroyed, 1 helicopter shot down


32–44 tanks destroyed or damaged, 1 Shilka, 1 mobile MRL, 6 Soko G-2 Galeb aircraft, 2 Mi-35 attack helicopters and 1 MFPB destroyed and 1 coast guard vessel and 1 MFPB damaged by Coalition forces (UN/NATO claim)
*The number of dead on the rebel side includes both opposition fighters and civilians, of which at least 358 have definitely been confirmed as rebels and 707 as civilians, among whom were 11 migrants, 2 journalists (1 U.S. & U.K.-U.S.) and 1 Ukrainian doctor
**Of the missing and captured, 150 civilians were found dead in a mass grave in Tawargha in mid-August and 5 in a grave near Misrata in early October and 8 rebels were found in a grave in November 2012

Anti-Gaddafi victory

Libya Anti-Gaddafi forces

United Nations UNSC Resolution 1973 forces

Hamza Brigade (initially)
Khamis Brigade (since 12 March)

358 killed
150-230 captured
20 T-72 tanks, 4 T-55 tanks, 2 BMPs, 1 Shilka, 3 APCs and 1 IMR-2 destroyed, 1 helicopter shot down

The Battle of Misrata (Arabic: معركة مصراتة‎‎), also known as the Siege of Misrata, was a battle of the 2011 Libyan Civil War for the control of Misrata. It was fought between troops loyal to the government of Muammar Gaddafi, and anti-Gaddafi rebels who held Misrata, the third largest city in Libya. Following the initial stages of the uprising, the Libyan government took back most towns in the west of the country, leaving Misrata the only major city under rebel control in Tripolitania. The city soon became the site of one of the war's major battles. The suffering of Misrata's citizens gained worldwide attention. The intensity of fighting, and its importance both strategic and symbolic, earned the battle notice as 'Libya's Stalingrad'. During the siege, the city saw very heavy fighting, came under daily assaults and shelling, and was at times cut off from its seaport, leaving no escape route for Misrata's inhabitants. Following UN military intervention in the civil war, NATO declared that breaking the encirclement of the city was its top priority. It ranks as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the entire war. In late April and early May, rebel counterattacks successfully retook the city, culminating in the fall of the airport and nearby military airbase on 11 May.


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