Brak al-Shati Airbase raid
Brak al-Shati Airbase raid | |||||||
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Part of the Second Libyan Civil War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Government of National Accord (denied involvement)[1] | House of Representatives | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Ahmed Abduljalil Al-Hasnawi (attack planner) Jamal Al-Treiki (13th battalion commander) |
Gen. Mohamed Ben Nayel †[2] Ali Ibrahim Ben Nayel †[2] | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
13th Misrata Battalion
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Casualties and losses | |||||||
35 | 141 killed (including civilians) |
On 18 May 2017, an attack was launched by militia men of the town of
Shortly after, the LNA launched air strikes on militant sites near the area in retaliation.[5][6][2][7]
Background
The GNA and LNA forces in Libya had reached an informal truce after meetings between GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and LNA Commander Khalifa Haftar. The attack came as a surprise to soldiers, who LNA claimed were participating in a military parade in the area before the attack.[8]
Response
Ahmad al-Mismari, a LNA military spokesman in Benghazi claimed 141 deaths as part of the attack, including executions of civilians and surrendering airbase forces.
GNA Minister of Defense Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi was suspended by Prime Minister al-Sarraj following allegations of his involvement in attack. Barghathi denied involvement, stating that ministry never ordered attack.[9]
On 20 May, after gathering of tribal elders in city of
In the days following the attack,
Presidency Council Vice-President Fathi Al-Mijabri described the attack as a war crime and declared Benghazi Defense Brigades as terrorists, calling it an act of sabotage aimed at ending attempts of national reconciliation between authorities in East and West that in previous weeks saw multiple meetings between both parties.[12]
International response
References
- ^ "Presidency Council and Tripoli MoD deny involvement in Brak Al-Shatti massacre". Libya Herald. 19 May 2017.
- ^ a b c "Massacre reported as Misratans and BDB take Brak Al-Shatti airbase". Libya Herald. 18 May 2017.
- ^ "141 died in Brak massacre says Mismari". Libya Herald. 19 May 2017.
- ^ "Death toll in south Libya airbase attack rises". Middle East Monitor. 20 May 2017.
- ^ "Clashes in southern Libya kill over 140". Xinhua. 20 May 2017. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017.
- ^ "Death toll from Libya airbase attack rises to 140, defense chief suspended". Archived from the original on 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
- ^ "Libya death toll 'rises to 140' at Brak El-Shati airbase". BBC News. 20 May 2017.
- ^ "Libya death toll 'rises to 140' at Brak El-Shati airbase". BBC News. 2017-05-19. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Serraj suspends Barghathi over the Brak Al-Shatti massacre". 19 May 2017.
- ^ "Southern Elders Issue a Statement Demanding Exit of the Third Force - Fezzan Libya Group". fezzanlibya.com. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ "Haftar forces bombard rivals after Libya airbase attack". 21 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ "Brak massacre a "war crime" by terrorists that sabotages reconciliation efforts, says Majbri". Libya Herald. 22 May 2017.
- ^ "Libya: Mass Executions Alleged at Military Base". 21 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ "Arab League brands Brak Al-Shatti massacre "barbaric"". Libya Herald. 20 May 2017.
- ^ "Arab League brands Brak Al-Shatti massacre "barbaric"". 20 May 2017.