Battle of Benghazi (2014–2017)
The Battle of Benghazi (2014–2017) was a major battle of the Second Libyan Civil War that raged from October 2014 to December 2017, between the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya, and the Libyan National Army (LNA), and paramilitaries supporting the Libyan National Army in the city. The battle was a direct consequence of the failed Benina Airport Offensive by the Benghazi Revolutionaries and their Allies, which allowed LNA Forces to regroup and attack deep into Benghazi.
| Battle of Benghazi (2014–2017) | ||||||||
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| Part of the Second Libyan Civil War | ||||||||
The situation in August 2016; before the LNA captured the Gwarsha and Ganfouda districts | ||||||||
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| Belligerents | ||||||||
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Libyan National Army
Supported by:
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Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries
Supported by:
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Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (from Nov. 2014 to Jan. 2017) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | ||||||||
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Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar (Commander of Operation Dignity) Colonel Abdussalam Al-Hassi (Commander of the LNA's Benghazi operations room) Col. Wanis Abu Khamada (Commander of Libya's Special Forces) Brig. Gen. Saqr Geroushi (Commander of the Libyan Air Force) Salem Al-Naaili † (Libyan Special Forces top commander) Ahmed Abu-Bakr Huttea Al-Zwai † (Field commander) |
Mohamed al-Zahawi † (Ansar al-Shariah Leader) Abu Khalid Al-Madani † (Zahawi's Successor) Ibrahim Bunuwara (POW) (Ansar al-Shariah top commander) Wissam Ben Hamid † (Libya Shield 1 Commander) Younis Al Louhicha † (Field commander) Jalal Makhzum † | Abdul Qader al-Najdi | ||||||
| Strength | ||||||||
| 25,000 | SCBR: several thousand (in 2014) | ISIL: Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | ||||||||
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5,000+ killed 3 DGSE operators killed, 1 helicopter downed | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| a Despite the LNA's declaration of victory on 5 July 2017, the battle continued with militants still holding 150 m2 of territory, which was reportedly reduced to just one building by 27 July. The militant-controlled area was cleared on 30 December. | ||||||||
By May 2016, the LNA controlled at least 90% of the City, including Ansar Al-Sharia's main neighborhood of Al-Laithi, Benghazi University, and the Cement Factory.
A number of Benghazi revolutionaries regrouped later on and announced the formation of the Benghazi Defense Brigades in June 2016, to support the Shura Council. Despite LNA General Khalifa Haftar's declaration of the "liberation" of the city, dozens of gunmen remained fortified and besieged in Sidi Akribesh, according to sources close to military, with the final pocket persisting until December 2017.