Battle of Taworgha
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Taworgha was a military engagement of the 2011 Libyan civil war
that began on 11 August 2011 when anti-Gaddafi forces
based out of Misrata advanced along the southeast road toward Sirte
in the early morning and attacked Libyan Army
positions in the city of Taworgha
. It ended on 13 August when rebel troops, after capturing the town, cleared it of snipers and artillery positions threatening Misrata.
After nearly two full days of fighting, the rebels claimed victory late on 12 August. One fighter reported that although the battle had been very intense initially, many loyalist soldiers eventually fled. On 13 August, low-level fighting reportedly continued in Taworgha's old quarter as opposition troops attempted to flush out loyalist sniper
s and other holdouts. According to an Al Jazeera reporter who witnessed the events, one rebel commander was shot dead while trying to negotiate the holdouts' surrender. Ali Ahmed al Sheh, a rebel commander, claimed that Gaddafi-loyal soldiers used civilians as human shield
s, preventing his forces from using heavy machine guns and slowing the offensive down.
On 13 August, Gaddafi
's Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim
stated that the rebel assault on Taworgha had failed, saying tribesmen from Bani Walid
had rallied to the fight the previous evening and pushed rebel forces all the way back to Misrata. This claim was not independently verified. The rebels themselves claimed that they were closing in on the last sniper and pro-Gaddafi artillery positions in the town. By the end of the day, a spokesperson for the National Transitional Council
said Taworgha had been secured. Twelve anti-Gaddafi fighters were killed during the operation, Commander Ibrahim Halbus told the BBC News
.
. The city of Misrata was reportedly relieved of the heavy missile bombardment which had been directed against its population.
On 17 August, rebels stated that they had advanced further and reached the outskirts of Al Hayshah, north of a major crossroads.
On 18 August, rebels claimed to have found a mass grave consisting of 150 civilians executed by Gaddafis forces near Taworgha.
On 19 August, three rebels were killed in light fighting around Taworgha.
A report published in The Sunday Telegraph on 11 September claimed that the town had been the target of ethnic cleansing
on the part of the Misrata Brigade, with virtually the entire population of the town forced to leave after its takeover by anti-Gaddafi forces and a number of refugee camp
s crowded with Taworgha's former residents being subjected to raids and arbitrary arrests by opposition fighters. Ibrahim Halbus, one of the original commanders of the brigade during the battle, was quoted by reporter Andrew Gilligan
as saying, "Taworgha no longer exists."
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
that began on 11 August 2011 when anti-Gaddafi forces
Anti-Gaddafi forces
The anti-Gaddafi forces were Libyan groups that opposed and militarily defeated the government of Muammar Gaddafi, killing him in the process. These opposition forces included organised and armed militia groups, participants in the 2011 Libyan civil war, Libyan diplomats who switched their...
based out of Misrata advanced along the southeast road toward Sirte
Sirte
Sirte is a city in LibyaSirte may also refer to:* Sirte Declaration, a 1999 resolution to create the African Union* Sirte Oil Company, a Libyan oil companyIn geography:* Gulf of Sirte, alias for Gulf of Sidra on Libya's coast...
in the early morning and attacked Libyan Army
Libyan Army
In 2009 the IISS estimated that the Ground Forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya numbered 25,000 with an additional, estimated, 25,000 conscripts...
positions in the city of Taworgha
Taworgha
Taworgha, , also transliterated Tawarga, Tauorga, Tawergha or Tawurgha, is, as of October 2011, a ghost town in Libya that is under administrative jurisdiction of the city of Misrata, which is 38 kilometers away...
. It ended on 13 August when rebel troops, after capturing the town, cleared it of snipers and artillery positions threatening Misrata.
Battle
On 11 August, rebel forces, including 3-6 tanks, advanced on Taworgha from the south and east. Al Jazeera described the offensive as "a heavily co-ordinated operation with NATO", which reportedly carried out air strikes against loyalist forces in support of the rebels.After nearly two full days of fighting, the rebels claimed victory late on 12 August. One fighter reported that although the battle had been very intense initially, many loyalist soldiers eventually fled. On 13 August, low-level fighting reportedly continued in Taworgha's old quarter as opposition troops attempted to flush out loyalist sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
s and other holdouts. According to an Al Jazeera reporter who witnessed the events, one rebel commander was shot dead while trying to negotiate the holdouts' surrender. Ali Ahmed al Sheh, a rebel commander, claimed that Gaddafi-loyal soldiers used civilians as human shield
Human shield
Human shield is a military and political term describing the deliberate placement of civilians in or around combat targets to deter an enemy from attacking those targets. It may also refer to the use of civilians to literally shield combatants during attacks, by forcing the civilians to march in...
s, preventing his forces from using heavy machine guns and slowing the offensive down.
On 13 August, Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
's Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim
Khaled Kaim
Khaled Kaim is the Deputy Foreign Minister of Libya. On 5 September 2011, it was reported that he has been arrested in Tripoli.-References:...
stated that the rebel assault on Taworgha had failed, saying tribesmen from Bani Walid
Bani Walid
Bani Walid or Ben Walid, prior to 2007, was one of the districts of Libya. In the 2007 administrative reorganization the territory formerly in Bani Walid District was transferred to Misrata District.Bani Walid bordered the following districts:...
had rallied to the fight the previous evening and pushed rebel forces all the way back to Misrata. This claim was not independently verified. The rebels themselves claimed that they were closing in on the last sniper and pro-Gaddafi artillery positions in the town. By the end of the day, a spokesperson for the National Transitional Council
National Transitional Council
The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
said Taworgha had been secured. Twelve anti-Gaddafi fighters were killed during the operation, Commander Ibrahim Halbus told the BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
.
Aftermath
Rebels reportedly advanced to positions beyond the town, taking a bridge on the highway linking it to SirteSirte
Sirte is a city in LibyaSirte may also refer to:* Sirte Declaration, a 1999 resolution to create the African Union* Sirte Oil Company, a Libyan oil companyIn geography:* Gulf of Sirte, alias for Gulf of Sidra on Libya's coast...
. The city of Misrata was reportedly relieved of the heavy missile bombardment which had been directed against its population.
On 17 August, rebels stated that they had advanced further and reached the outskirts of Al Hayshah, north of a major crossroads.
On 18 August, rebels claimed to have found a mass grave consisting of 150 civilians executed by Gaddafis forces near Taworgha.
On 19 August, three rebels were killed in light fighting around Taworgha.
A report published in The Sunday Telegraph on 11 September claimed that the town had been the target of ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing is a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic orreligious group from certain geographic areas....
on the part of the Misrata Brigade, with virtually the entire population of the town forced to leave after its takeover by anti-Gaddafi forces and a number of refugee camp
Refugee camp
A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees. Hundreds of thousands of people may live in any one single camp. Usually they are built and run by a government, the United Nations, or international organizations, or NGOs.Refugee camps are generally set up in an impromptu...
s crowded with Taworgha's former residents being subjected to raids and arbitrary arrests by opposition fighters. Ibrahim Halbus, one of the original commanders of the brigade during the battle, was quoted by reporter Andrew Gilligan
Andrew Gilligan
Andrew Paul Gilligan is a British journalist best known for a 2003 report on BBC Radio 4's The Today Programme in which he said a British government briefing paper on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction had been 'sexed up', a claim that ultimately led to a public inquiry that criticised Gilligan...
as saying, "Taworgha no longer exists."