Battle of Sirte (2015)
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The Battle of Sirte (2015) refers to the battle in the spring of 2015, in the region of Sirte, Libya between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Libya Shield Force. ISIL forces had been present in the city since February 2015,[1] before the Fall of Nofaliya. After Nofaliya fell to ISIL forces, the Tripoli-based government had decided to send reinforcements to recapture Sirte.[2]
Contents
The battle
The fighting began 14 March 2015, between forces of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and the forces of the Libya Shield Force, no death toll was initially given, but the fighting was described as violent and stopped at dusk.[3] Among those killed was Ahmed al-Rouissi, a Tunisian ISIL commander.[4]
On 18 March, 12 Tripoli government soldiers were killed during fighting against Islamic State fighters; 10 in Nofaliya and 2 in Ben Jawad.[5]
On 25 March, ISIL attacked a Brigade 166 checkpoint, 15 kilometers west of Sirte, killing five militiamen.[6]
Over the next two months, sporadic fighting took place around Sirte. On 20 May, ISIL forces again attacked a Brigade 166 position. According to a Libya Dawn official, 23 ISIL fighters and one soldier were killed.[7] On 28 May ISIL captured the nearly-ruined Ghardabiya Air Base and the Great Man-Made River water project outside of Sirte when Libyan Dawn forces withdrew.[8][9] Over the next few days, Libya Dawn forces withdrew to positions 12 miles west of Sirte, after ISIL advanced to the east, south and west of the city.[8]
Aftermath
During August and September, new clashes erupted in Sirte between pro-Gaddafi loyalists and ISIL forces.[10] On 23 September, ISIL once again asserted its control over the whole of Sirte after it expelled all the remaining pro-Gaddafi elements.
By February 2016, ISIL's ranks in Libya had increased to about 6,500[11] to 10,000 fighters,[12] with about 5,000 of them located around the Sirte region.[13]
See also
- February 2015 Egyptian airstrikes in Libya
- Fall of Nofaliya (2015)
- Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant occupation of Derna
- Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya
- List of wars and battles involving ISIL
- Timeline of ISIL related events
References
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- ↑ U.S. Bombing in Libya Reveals Limits of Strategy Against ISIS
- ↑ U.S. Extends Strikes Against ISIS to Libya, Kills 41 Militants
- ↑ Iraq and Libya are harder the second time
