First Battle of Brega
First Battle of Brega | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of Libyan Civil War | |||||||
Anti-Gaddafi rebels in Brega | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Armed forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Bashir Abdel-Qader[2] Khaled Kowati[3] | Muammar Gaddafi | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
300-350 combatants One tank Dozens of technicals |
200-400 combatants Two fighter jets 50 technicals 120mm artillery | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
14 killed[4] 12 captured[5] 28 wounded[6] |
2[2]-10 killed 4 captured 1 F1 shot down[3] |
The First Battle of Brega
The battle
In the early hours of 2 March, well-armed government pro-Gaddafi forces arrived at Brega in over 100 vehicles. They succeeded in wresting control of the oil refinery, port, terminal and industry airport, as well as the town university.[8] Coming within 2–3 kilometers (1.2–1.9 miles) from the town center, pro-Gaddafi forces managed to pin down rebel forces.[9] According to a number of news sources, rebels were rushed to mobilization and hid in the sand for camouflage. Most were volunteers from the rebel-controlled cities of Ajdabiya and Benghazi.[8][9]
As the attack was underway,
It was reported that women and children were dragged out of their cars on the Tripoli-Benghazi road by the pro-Gaddafi forces and used as human shields.[9]
The government force retreated to
Aftermath
At least 14 people were initially reported killed in the fighting, although some estimates were as low as five dead.[10] Reporters who came in from the Benghazi area saw four dead, two of which were apparently pro-Gaddafi fighters.[2] At least 14 opposition fighters were later reported killed and 28 others wounded. Eight of those killed were former oil workers.[11] The rebels claimed that they had killed 10 loyalist soldiers and captured several others.[12]
The assault on the Brega oil port was the first major regime counter-offensive against the opposition-held eastern half of Libya, where the population, backed by mutinous army units, rose up and drove out Gaddafi's rule during the first few days of the uprising.[13] The offensive came while Gaddafi warned opposition forces that he would fight "until the last man and woman". Following the battle, celebrations were held by rebel fighters and residents in Brega and Ajdabiya. According to BBC correspondent John Simpson, the rebels were "very proud" and the general feeling in Brega was that Gaddafi's troops "do not necessarily have their hearts in the job."[8]
On 3 March, pro-Gaddafi jets bombed the area between the oil refinery and the residential zone in Brega, rebels also reported an air raid against positions in Ajdabiya.[14][15] Analysts believe the Battle of Brega indicates that either side may prove unable to definitely defeat the other.[14] ' On 4 March, anti-Gaddafi fighters launched an
References
- ^ Schemm, Paul (2 March 2011). "Libya Rebels Rout Gaddafi Forces In Fierce Battle For Oil Port". The Huffington Post. Brega. Associated Press. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ a b c "Live Blog - Libya March 2 | Al Jazeera Blogs". Al Jazeera. 1 March 2011. Archived from the original on 8 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ a b Potter, Mitch (2 March 2011). "The Star in Libya: Rebels quash Gadhafi raid". The Toronto Star. Brega. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ a b Simpson, John (3 March 2011). "Libya revolt: Rebels say no talks unless Gaddafi goes". BBC News. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ Sengupta, Kim (3 March 2011). "Gaddafi's men poised to strike at Benghazi". The Independent. El Agheila. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ Dehghanpisheh, Babak (4 March 2011). "Inside Libya's Rebel Movement". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ Hill, Evan (3 March 2011). "The battle for Brega". Al Jazeera. Brega. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Libya revolt: Rebels mark 'victory' after Brega battle". BBC News. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d Bloomfield, Adrian (2 March 2011). "Libya: rebels in desperate battle to hold ground". The Telegraph. Brega.
- ^ "Gadhafi steps up massacre". The Daily Star. 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ Koutsoukis, Jason (3 March 2011). "Gaddafi's forces unleashed on rebels". The Sydney Morning Herald. Ajdabiya. Reuters. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ Schemm, Paul (5 March 2011). "Rebels reinforce key Libyan oil port". Sydney Morning Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ Stanglin, Douglas (2 March 2011). "Libyan rebels fend off government attack on eastern oil port". USA Today. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ a b Marcus, Jonathan (3 March 2011). "Libya stalemate presents diplomatic challenges". BBC News. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ "Funerals held for Libyan rebels". Al Jazeera. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ "Gaddafi loyalists launch offensive". Al Jazeera. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ Hill, Evan (10 March 2011). "Rebel push stalls outside Ras Lanuf". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ Wedeman, Ben (10 March 2011). "Anti-Qaddafi forces advising civilians (...)". CNN. Retrieved 10 March 2011.