Khalid Shahmah
Encyclopedia
Major-General Khalid Shahmah is a senior Libyan military officer. Though once under the employ of Muammar Gaddafi
's government, he is now loyal to the National Transitional Council
of Libya
. After the use of Gaddafi's forces to repress a series of protests and the subsequent uprising
beginning on 15 February 2011, on 10 March 2011 it was reported by Libya's state news that Major-General Khalid Shahmah had defected
. Shahmah's defection was a contributing factor in a change of strategy for Gaddafi's remaining loyal forces during the 2011 Libyan civil war
.
Libya's state-controlled television station reported in an "urgent" on-screen cation that Major-General Khalid Shahmah, switched sides to join the rebels in the city of Zawiya, one of two fiercely contested western cities that were strongholds of the opposition at the time of Shahmah's defection. Coinciding with the defection, Western military analysts, like the International Institute for Strategic Studies
based in London
, determined that Colonel Gaddafi had begun curbing the use of his ground troops
because his commanders feared mass defections.
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 government, he is now loyal to 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,...
of Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. After the use of Gaddafi's forces to repress a series of protests and the subsequent uprising
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...
beginning on 15 February 2011, on 10 March 2011 it was reported by Libya's state news that Major-General Khalid Shahmah had defected
Defection
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...
. Shahmah's defection was a contributing factor in a change of strategy for Gaddafi's remaining loyal forces during the 2011 Libyan civil war
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...
.
Libya's state-controlled television station reported in an "urgent" on-screen cation that Major-General Khalid Shahmah, switched sides to join the rebels in the city of Zawiya, one of two fiercely contested western cities that were strongholds of the opposition at the time of Shahmah's defection. Coinciding with the defection, Western military analysts, like the International Institute for Strategic Studies
International Institute for Strategic Studies
The International Institute for Strategic Studies is a British research institute in the area of international affairs. It describes itself as "the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict"...
based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, determined that Colonel Gaddafi had begun curbing the use of his ground troops
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
because his commanders feared mass defections.