Civil War in Libya (since 2014)

Since 2012, Libya has been ruled by the General National Congress (KNK). The election in June 2013 of Nuri Abu Sahmein to the position of chairman of the KNF became a symbol of the fact that the adherents of radical Islam established control over the activities of the congress ^{[48] [49]} . VNK did not take measures to combat the influence of Islamic groups, was unable to create an effective police and army ^[50] and adopted Sharia as the basis for all state legislation in December 2013 ^[51] . In February 2014, the term of office of the national congress expired, however, on December 23, 2013, the VNK decided to extend its powers until the end of 2014. This decision provoked massive protests of Libyan citizens in many cities, including Tripoli , Al-Baida , Tobruk and Ajdabiya ^{[50] [52] [53]} . On February 14, 2014, General Khalifa Haftar ordered the General National Congress to dissolve and called for the formation of an interim government, which was to organize the elections scheduled for June 25. VNK ignored the demand, calling the general’s actions a coup d'etat.

On February 14, 2014, General Khalifa Haftar announced the deposition of the Libyan government and demanded the dissolution of the General National Congress . He ignored the protests of the Speaker of Parliament, Nuri Abu Sahmein, and directly appealed to the Libyan people to support the military ^[54] (many people considered Abu Sahmein to be elected speaker on June 25, 2013 politically associated with the Muslim Brotherhood movement) ^[55] .

• The Libyan House of Representatives is the internationally recognized parliament of Libya, elected in 2014 . Also known as the “government in Tobruk ” due to the fact that in August 2014, after the capture of its opponents by Tripoli, the Chamber of Deputies left the city and settled in the city of Tobruk in the north-east of the country ^[47] . The chamber is supported by the Libyan army under the leadership of General Khalifa Haftar . On March 2, 2015, the Chamber of Deputies appointed Haftar the commander in chief of the armed forces ^[56] . The government in Tobruk enjoys the support of the UAE and Egypt, which used its air force against opponents of the Chamber ^[57] .
• The new General National Congress (until 2016) and the Government of National Salvation (since 2016) are the body formed by a part of the deputies of the General National Congress who did not recognize the elections to the Chamber of Deputies . Congress holds its meetings in Tripoli after its supporters managed to dislodge forces loyal to the Chamber of Deputies from the city. The new General National Congress represents the interests of a broad Islamist coalition known as the “Dawn of Libya,” which includes the Muslim Brotherhood movement ^{[58] [59]} . Turkey, Sudan and Qatar, according to various media reports, provide support to the New General National Congress ^{[57] [60]} . After the formation of the Government of National Unity in 2016, the parliament was transformed into the Government of National Salvation and is now fighting with the PNE.
• Libyan Presidential Council (since 2016) - a government body created in March 2016 on the basis of the Shirat Agreement, with the support of the UN Security Council . The Presidential Council took over the powers of the Libyan head of state and formed a government of national unity. The Council is chaired by Faiz Saraj (Prime Minister), as well as three Vice-Presidents (representatives of each historical region of Libya). Replaced the New General National Congress .
• The Islamic state of Iraq and the Levant entered Libya in April 2014. ISIS emerged as a “third party” in the conflict. Since January 2015, the group launched an attack on the city of Surt . During the fighting, militants captured a group of Egyptian Copts and executed them. In response, Egypt launched airstrikes on ISIS ^{[2] [61]} .

Beginning of Conflict

The conflict began on May 16, 2014 , when Major General of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar announced the start of a large-scale air and ground operation of units of the armed forces controlled by him in the area of ​​the city of Benghazi , describing it as an “amendment to the revolution” ^[42] . The military offensive received the code name Operation Dignity. On May 18, the operation was expanded to Tripoli , which marked the assault on the building of the General National Congress . As a result of the clashes, according to initial data, 20 people were killed. The official news agency LANA reported 12 dead and 90 wounded. To counter the militants, aviation was lifted into the sky, which attacked Islamist bases from the air, after which representatives of the "Martyrs' Brigade on February 17" reported that they managed to shoot down one army helicopter ^[62] . Later, the death toll reached 24 people, the local airport was closed ^[63] . According to the Libyan Ministry of Health, 43 people died, more than 100 were injured ^[64] . Later, the number of victims was 79 people, 141 were injured ^{[65] [66]} . Libyan interim prime minister Abdullah Abdurrahman at-Thani described Haftar’s attack as “acting outside the legitimacy of the state and coup,” ordering regular security forces to take control of the situation:

On May 18, clashes continued at the General National Congress building in Tripoli ^[69] , as well as in the districts of Abu Slim and Al-Hadba ^[70] . According to the representative of General Khalifa Haftar, his supporters tried to arrest the Islamists, but met resistance ^[71] . Khalifa Haftar himself said that "the operation will continue until Benghazi is cleared of terrorists." In a joint statement, the parliament, the heads of the transitional government and the General Staff of Libya called the clashes an attempted “coup” and that “everyone who participated in this coup attempt will be prosecuted” ^[72] . Haftar supporters, eastern Libyan tribes, and rebels from the city of Zintan joined forces against the Islamists, broke into the parliament building, took hostages and blocked nearby streets in order to force parliament to resign, stop supporting Islamists and suspend the development of a new constitution ^[73] .

On May 18, members of the Al-Qa'qa and Sawaik Zintan brigades stormed the government’s residence, after which clashes spread to the building of the Ministry of the Interior. Resistance was shown to them by the militants of the "Operational Headquarters of the Libyan Revolutionaries" loyal to the authorities ^[74] . On the same day, at a press conference, Justice Minister Salah al-Mirgani said that “the government demands an immediate end to the use of military force to express a political position and return to the legal framework of political dialogue” ^[75] . On the same day in the evening, on private television channels, Colonel Mukhtar Fernana read out a statement “on behalf of the army”, in which he announced “freezing the work” of the General National Congress , saying that “the most limited control and legislative functions in transition” were transferred to the elected Council 60 ( Constitutional Assembly), which will develop a new constitution ^[76] . Later, the government of Abdullah Abdurahman al-Thani called on Congress to suspend its work until the next election ^[77] , scheduled for June 25 ^[78] .

On May 19, the head of the Libyan army ordered the entry into Tripoli of armed units loyal to the government. According to some reports, troops at the air base east of Tobruk joined the forces of Haftar ^[79] . On May 19, the officer’s command for the location of the Air Force flight brigade in Tobruk, located 175 km west of the Egyptian border, issued a communiqué stating that "the Air Force base in Tobruk is joining the army under the command of General Khalifa Qasim Haftar." Support for Haftar was previously announced by several officers of the eastern district, including two Air Force pilots. Haftar Headquarters is located in the city of El Abyar, 70 km southwest of Benghazi ^[80] . Later, Haftar’s actions were supported by the Tripoli National Security Directorate, the As-Saika army special forces from Benghaz with about 3 thousand soldiers ^[81] , Libyan special forces led by special forces commander Vanisa Buhamadou ^[82] , the Ministry of the Interior and the commander of Libyan air defense forces ^[83] . President of the General National Congress Nuri Abu Sahmein called Haftar’s actions “an attempted coup”, promising to prosecute all who stand behind him ^[83] .

On May 21, a group of militants stopped the train of Rear Admiral of the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Hassan Abu Shnaki, and opened fire on his car. Schnaki was wounded in the head, his driver and two guards were injured, but nothing threatens their life ^[84] .

At a press conference on May 22, Khalifa Haftar said that the Libyan High Judicial Council should form a civil administration, which will take over the administration of the country and hold elections ^[85] :

In support of Haftar, the Minister of Culture and Civil Society of Libya, Habib Muhammad al-Amin: “I no longer recognize the legitimacy of Congress, since it was unable to rule the country, and I urge the other ministers to follow my example” ^[86] .

On May 22, Khalifa Haftar, in an interview with the Egyptian Al-Vatan newspaper, said his supporters “will not stop until the government that has lost all legitimacy of the General National Congress is overthrown and the Libyan people live in peace.” Haftar expressed confidence that the armed police, “as soon as they are beheaded, will not last long. We were supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Air Defense, Special Forces, tribes joined one by one, and these groups still exist only in Tripoli and several regions of the country ":

On May 22, the armed units of the Misurat Brigade (also known as the Central Shield), part of the Libyan Shield , began to take up positions in Tripoli to defend the General National Congress at the request of Congress President Nuri Abu Sahmein and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Abdelssalyam al-Salehane ^{[88 ]} . However, in a communiqué on behalf of the current government led by Abdullah Abdurahman At-Thani, read out by the Minister of Culture and Civil Society, Habib Muhammad al-Amin, it is said that:

On May 23, in Tripoli, on the Square of Martyrs, hundreds of people gathered for a demonstration in support of Haftar’s actions and his operation. Earlier, the Sheikhs of the Tubu tribe, who supported Muammar Gaddafi three years ago, announced support for the operation carried out by Haftar and his Libyan National Army ^[90] .

On May 27, Khalifa Haftar refused to recognize the new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Ahmed Maytyg and called for a postponement of the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 25.

On May 27, fighters with grenade launchers and small arms attacked Maytyg’s house ^[92] . One attacker was killed, another was wounded and captured. Maytig and his family were at the time of the attack in the house, none of them were injured ^[93] .

On May 28, spokesman Muhammad Hijazi announced that two combat aircraft from the Air Force that had joined the Haftar counter-terrorist operation delivered two attacks on the location of the “Martyrs Battalion February 17” on the western outskirts of Benghazi. ^[94]

On May 28, in a message sent to the government secretariat, the Libyan Ministry of Justice did not recognize the decision of the General National Congress to pass a vote of confidence in the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Maytig. According to experts of the Ministry of Justice, at the meeting on May 25, there was no quorum stipulated by legal norms - only 83 out of 93 deputies present supported the government (with the required 120 plus one out of 200 votes) ^[95] .

On May 29, the new government, led by Ahmed Maytig, held its first meeting in a Tripoli hotel. According to the representative of Maityg, state security issues and discussion of plans for the near future are on the agenda. The official government building is occupied by the interim government under the leadership of Abdullah Abdurrahman at-Thani , who intends to continue to fulfill his duties and to resolve the issue of the eligibility of appointing a new government in court ^[96] .

Mid 2014

On June 2, seven people were killed and 15 injured as a result of clashes between Haftar forces and extremists in Benghazi. ^[97] Later, the death toll reached 25 people, the wounded - 70. The battles between the army special forces and the Ansar al-Sharia groups ^[98] and the Martyrs Battalion on February 17 broke out after the latter attacked with the mortars and grenade launchers from several directions the special forces base Al-Saig ”, who supported Haftar, trying to seize the location of the special forces, but met with resistance. Combat aviation came to the rescue with the Benin Air Base in the Benghazi area, which joined the Haftar side. Helicopters inflicted a series of attacks on the positions of extremists, after which they returned to the airfield ^[99] .

On June 4, a suicide bomber blew up a car bomb near Haftar’s headquarters in Abyar, 70 km southwest of Benghazi. The attack killed five people, including three soldiers guarding the headquarters. Haftar himself was not injured ^[100] . Later, the militants fired from the office of Prime Minister Maytyg from a grenade launcher, but no one was injured, and Maytyg himself was not in the building ^[101] .

On June 4, fire was fired from a passing car in the city of Surt , resulting in the murder of 42-year-old Swiss citizen Michel Gro ^[102] , the head of the mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Misrata , who was traveling in Surt and leaving the Libyan representative office at that time Red Crescent Society ^[103] . ICRC spokesman for North and West Africa Wald Gabriel Saugeron said that “he was attacked by armed men after meeting with two colleagues. He died in a hospital in Surt. His colleagues have not suffered, but are in a state of shock. ” Earlier, on May 22, militants fired at the buildings of the Red Cross representative office in Benghazi ^[104] , after which Saugeron stated that “we temporarily suspend the movement of our employees and our activities” ^[105] .

On June 4, the Prime Minister of the interim government, Abdullah Abdurrahman At-Thani, announced that he would soon leave his post, however, saying that he was ready to transfer power only after mutual understanding was reached at the General National Congress on the legality of electing the latter as the new Prime Minister or the court will approve the results of the vote, noting that it does not have any disagreements with the Maytig government. At-Thani recalled that his government was still fulfilling its duties. ^[106] Earlier it was announced that the Libyan Supreme Constitutional Court would consider in the week the legitimacy of the appointment of Maytig as Prime Minister. ^[107]

On June 5, the Libyan Supreme Constitutional Court, by its ruling, announced that the election of Ahmed Maytig as prime minister was unlawful ^{[108] [109]} , as it was contrary to the provisions of the Constitutional Declaration. On June 9, the Libyan Supreme Constitutional Court made the final decision on the unconstitutionality of the election of Ahmed Maytig as Prime Minister ^{[110] [111]} . A court decision cannot be appealed ^[112] . The General National Congress declared their agreement with the verdict ^[113] . At a press conference in Tripoli , Ahmed Maytig said that “I respect the court’s decision on the illegality of my appointment and submit to it” ^[114] .

On June 25, elections to the Libyan House of Representatives were held . Most of the seats were taken by secular factions, and Islamists, who had significant power in the previous parliament, received only 30 seats. In this regard, the results intensified the struggle between secular and Islamic forces ^[115] .

On July 13, controlling the Tripoli airport since 2011, militias from Zintan were attacked by fighters of one of the Islamist groups. On July 14, the airport underwent rocket fire, after which the authorities were forced to close it. About 90 percent of aircraft parked at the airport were damaged. After that, the representative of the Libyan government, Ahmad Lamin, said that the Libyan government intends to appeal to the international community with a request to deploy international forces in the country to restore stability ^[116] .

July 18, as a result of the fighting around the international airport in Tripoli , 30 people died and about 40 were injured ^[117] .

On August 23, Islamist groups from Misrata and other cities seized the Tripoli , which was controlled by the Zintan brigades for about three years ^[118] .

After establishing control over the city, the Islamists announced the non-recognition of the House of Representatives and the restoration of the General National Congress. On August 25, some VNK representatives held a meeting in Tripoli, declared themselves the legitimate authority and elected Omar al-Hasi as Prime Minister, resulting in dual power in the country ^{[44] [45] [46]} . The House of Representatives left captured Tripoli and settled in the city of Tobruk in the north-east of the country ^[47] .

On September 1, deputies of the House of Representatives at a meeting in Tobruk instructed Abdullah Abdurrahman al-Thani to form a government as the new prime minister ^[119] .

End of 2014

On November 6, the Supreme Court in Tripoli captured by the Islamists announced the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies ^{[120] [121] [122]} . The Chamber of Deputies called this decision “adopted under pressure” and therefore continued to function ^[123] .

A December 29, 2014 statement issued by the United Nations Liberation Support Mission (UNSMIL) reported that missile attacks from the air affected targets in the city of Misrata in western Libya, one of the strongholds of the Islamists who oppose the central government. ^[124]

2015

On January 16, after negotiations held in Geneva with the mediation of the UN, the warring parties agreed to cease fire in order to reach a solution to the conflict by peaceful means ^[125] . January 20 United Nations Support Mission for Libya expressed concern about the available information on the violation of the ceasefire and reminded the conflicting parties that the ceasefire provides for a ban on any movement of armed personnel and military equipment ^[126] .

On February 16, the Egyptian Air Force launched a series of airstrikes on the positions of the “ Islamic State ” in Libya after the video recording of the execution of 21 Egyptian Copts appeared on the Internet ^[2] .

On February 19, Egyptian special forces entered Libyan territory to conduct an operation in the city of Derna , which had previously been captured by ISIS ^[127] .

On February 21, according to the Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, some of the chemical weapons belonging to Muammar Gaddafi had fallen into the hands of Libyan radical groups and they had already conducted the first tests of this weapon ^[128] .

On March 9, IG fighters announced the capture of nine foreign oil workers during a raid on the Al-Ghani oil field. During the attack, according to some reports, eight guards were beheaded ^[129] .

March 14 began fighting for the city of Sirte .

On March 18, a Tunisian citizen, the commander of Ahmed al-Ruissi, was killed near Surt during the battle ^[130] . On the same day, 12 soldiers of the Tripoli government were destroyed during the struggle against the Islamists ^[131] .

On March 21, the Chief of the General Staff of the National Army of Libya, Abdel Razzak An-Nazuri, confirmed that the Libyan army approached Tripoli and took control of the capital's airport, as well as the settlements of Azizia, Nasiriya, Al-Zahra, Al-Saidiyah and Ameria west of Tripoli. Since August 2014, Tripoli has been under the control of the Fajr Libia terrorist organization ^[132] .

On March 22, the Libyan army conducted a large-scale operation against groups of the Fajr Libya terrorist organization south of Tripoli. And in the west of the country in the city of Ez-Zawiya there are fierce battles ^[133] .

On March 31, deputies of the General National Congress 74 of 85 votes dismissed Omar al-Hasi from the post of prime minister ^{[134] [135] [136]} . According to some reports, this decision was associated with a conflict with deputies and auditors who accused him of lying about the financial situation of the government ^{[137] [138]} . After that, al-Hasi announced his intention to consult with his “revolutionary partners", who are supporting his armed groups, on whether to accept the resignation ^[139] . Khalifa al-Gavi ^{[137] [139] [140] has} been appointed the interim prime minister of the New Liberal Democratic Party.

On April 12, Islamic State militants attacked the South Korean Embassy in the city of Libya ^[141] .

April 18, there were fights in Tripoli . At least eight soldiers were killed, 10 were injured as a result of chaotic shelling by fighters of Fajr Libya in the western suburbs of the capital - Tazhur. In response, artillery belonging to one of the military units opened fire on the fortifications of the militants in Tazhur, but they managed to leave their positions. As a result, at least 35 rebels were eliminated ^[142] .

Late in the evening of May 28, ISIS terrorists captured the almost destroyed Gardabiya air base in the south of Surt ^{[143] [144]} .

On May 31, Libyan Dawn forces left their positions in the area of ​​the city of Surta after the capture of territories in the east, south, and west of the city by IS. It has been reported that Libyan Dawn retreated 12 miles west of Surt ^[144] .

On June 9, militants of the Islamic State (IS) launched an offensive in Libyan Surt and its environs. Islamists seized the power station 30 kilometers west of the hometown of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed in 2011. Radical Islamists captured the small village and farms of Navfalia southeast of Surt in February 2015. Then in March they launched an assault on Surt, during the first attacks, a television and radio station, government buildings, a university and a hospital were captured. Since then, the city has been divided into zones of influence of militants of the IG and its defenders, battles are constantly going on. At the end of May, the terrorists again went on the offensive and took control of the Surta airport, a military base located on its territory and part of the powerful irrigation facilities built during the time of Gaddafi. In early June 2015, IS militants announced "complete control" over the village of Harava near Surt and continued to capture the vicinity of the city. The armed formations of the Misrata brigade transferred here did not hold back the onslaught of the Caliphate’s supporters ^[145] .

On June 10, in the Libyan city of Derna , fighting broke out between Shura Derna militants (the Sod Council) associated with al-Qaida and supporters of the Islamic State (IS). Shura Derna militants (mainly representatives of the Ansar al-Sharia group) accused IS fighters of killing their leader, 55-year-old Nasser Aker, after which armed clashes broke out, in which both sides lost 19 people by the evening (including 16 IG fighters). It is reported that the fighting continued on the night of June 11th. Several dozen Ansar al-Sharia militants left Benghazi for help to their help. A significant part of the city of Dern is under the control of the “Islamic State” ^[146] .

On August 13, fighting took place in the center of Surt. During the shootings, two field commanders of the Islamic State were killed - Saudi Abu Husayfa Ansari and Egyptian Abu Hammam Masri. Two local militias died. Terrorists deliberately bombard the 3rd microdistrict of Surta, where the density of civilians is the highest.

On August 14, at least 38 people were killed in battles for the Libyan city of Surt between local residents and Islamists against militants of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. The fighting began on August 11 after the assassination of the local mosque Khalid bin Rajab Ferjani by terrorists. IS fighters are firing at areas controlled by local militias and Islamists from the central regions of the country. The day before they presented an ultimatum - if the residents of Surt do not stop resisting, poisonous gas will be used against them. Surt’s defenders do not have enough weapons and ammunition, since the militants from Misrata, considering all the local residents as supporters of Gaddafi, have long been completely disarmament here (the city of Surt is the birthplace of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed in 2011) ^[147] .

On August 24, the Libyan army commander Khalifa Haftar accused Turkey , Qatar and Sudan , saying that these countries support the radicals in Libya, and promised to change the situation in the city of Surt, besieged by militants of the Islamic State (IS) group. The military leader also arrived in the capital of Jordan to conclude an agreement in the field of military-technical cooperation. Haftar noted that the Libyan army is currently waging a war on terrorism on behalf of the whole world. Following the results of an extraordinary meeting of the League of Arab States ( LAS ) last week, the participating countries promised to develop a unified strategy for Libyan military assistance in the fight against IS ^[148] .

On August 26, Abgelcader Messahel , Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Maghreb and Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, said in a telephone conversation with Italian Foreign Minister and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni that a government of national unity should be formed in Libya to resolve the existing the country has numerous issues and opposed military intervention in Libya ^[149] .

Peace Agreement

On September 18, 2015, the parties to the conflict in Libya reached an agreement, "overcoming all remaining political differences." This was stated by the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Bernardino Leon . According to him, the signing of a document that will put an end to many years of conflict in this North African country will take place in Morocco .

The shirat agreement was reached on July 11 following the results of the previous round of inter-Libyan dialogue. However, the ceremony in Morocco was ignored by the delegates of the pro-Islamist General National Congress (VNK, the former interim parliament) of Libya, which sits in Tripoli. Signatures on the document “on peace and reconciliation” were put by emissaries of the interim government recognized by the international community in Tobruk, representatives of a number of regional municipalities, leading political parties and civil society organizations of the country. The final text, now prepared through UNSMIL, contains proposals made by the KNI. According to the plan outlined in the agreement, a government of national unity should be formed in Libya for a period of one year, which will be headed by the prime minister and his two deputies. The functions of the legislative body will be performed by the House of Representatives ^[150] .

On October 9, 2015, the Libyan National Unity Government was formed. Faiz Saraj became Prime Minister. In addition, the names of three deputy prime ministers were named - Ahmed Mightig, Fathi al-Majbri and Musa al-Koni. “After a year of effort involving over 150 Libyans from all regions of the country, the time has come when we can announce the formation of a government of national unity,” said Leon. For many months, discussions in Morocco were attended by representatives of the main conflicting Libyan parties - the pro-Islamist General National Congress (former interim parliament), which sits in Tripoli, and the international community recognized the interim government in Tobruk. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the negotiation of the final draft of the political agreement, as well as the list of candidates for inclusion in the government, the leadership of which will be entrusted to Saraj ^[151] .

December 13, 2015 in Rome hosted an international conference on Libya. At it, two governments fighting each other agreed on their intention on December 16 to sign a peace agreement and form a government of national unity within 40 days from the date of signing ^{[152] [153]} .

On December 17, 2015, in the city of Sherat (Morocco), a ceremony was signed to sign an agreement on a peaceful settlement and the formation of a government of national unity between the parties to the conflict in Libya ^[154] .

2016

January 7 completely attack in the city of Zliten , 160 km from the capital of Tripoli: a suicide bomber attacked a training camp for cadets by car. More than 70 people were killed, about 200 were injured. Following this, a car was blown up in the city of Ras al-Anuf . According to various sources, from 7-10 people were killed and 40 wounded in this place.

This is one of the deadliest attacks in Libya in recent times. The responsibility was assumed by the Islamic State organization. The next day, in the tourist city of Hurghada in Egypt, an attack was made on the hotel by two armed men. As a result, 3 tourists were injured: two Austrian citizens and one citizen of Sweden ^{[155] [156] [157]} .

On April 2, 2 people died in an ISIS attack on an oil field ^[158] .

On the night of April 5–6, the government of the New General National Congress in Tripoli transferred power to the UN-supported national unity government. This decision was a sharp turn in the policy of the institution (NWC), which did everything possible to prevent the arrival of the new cabinet head Faiz Saraj ^[159] .

On April 5, the New General National Congress announced that it would recognize the presidential council and cease to exist. ^[160]

April 20 In Libya, government forces push the Islamists in Benghazi. As a result of a broad offensive undertaken in three directions, the military took a number of positions. Dozens of extremists killed, including field commanders, are reported ^[161] .

On April 21, the Libyan city of Dern was liberated from the Islamic State ^[162] .

On April 22, the City of Dern came under the control of the militants of the Shura Mujahideen Council of Libya ^[163] .

On May 5, ISIS terrorists blew up a car at a checkpoint at the third largest city in Libya - Misrata. Killed at least six militias. The militants seized several settlements, including the city of Abu Kurein. Shortly before this, the government in Tripoli announced the creation of a military command with the aim of attacking the city of Surt - the main bridgehead of the group ^[164] .

On May 18, armed groups supporting the Libyan government of national unity drove out Islamic State militants from many previously captured cities. The Islamists were thrown back to the bridgehead in the Surt area. Among the liberated settlements is the strategically important Abu Grain on the road to Misrata. These settlements were captured by IS fighters as a result of a major offensive launched in early May. A few days ago, troops supporting the government of national unity managed to turn the tide ^[165] .

On June 4, the Libyan army, loyal to the Presidential Council, liberated the al-Gardabiya airfield, located just 20 kilometers south of Surt. The blow was delivered as part of Operation Al-Bunyan Al-Marsus, the purpose of which is to liberate IS-controlled territories. The backbone of the forces advancing on Surt was made up of units from Misrata. Also, the village of Abu Hadi, located 2 kilometers east of the air base, was taken. After that, the aircraft attacked the positions of the terrorists at runway No. 17 and the city of As-Sahair ^[166] .

On June 12, IS militants blew up three mined cars in Surt driven by suicide bombers. The target of the attack was forces allied to the new Libyan government. Several people were injured. In Surt, fierce street battles are ongoing. Government forces and their allies are trying to drive out militants who have entrenched in the central areas of the city ^[167] .

On June 15, Libyan troops strengthened their positions near the city of Surt, occupied by militants of the Islamic State, repelling the attacks of terrorists. Collisions also resumed near a port occupied a week earlier by government forces. The Libyan army has liberated several quarters of Surt and is fighting around the Ouagadougou conference room. Over the past month, more than 120 people have died in battles and about 500 were injured. The military reported that the militants suffered significant losses, although hundreds of IS fighters still occupy part of the city ^[168] .

On June 21, fighting continued in the city center, where Libyan troops liberated one block from IS militants (36 people died during the operation and 100 were injured ^[169] ), 29 people were killed and dozens were injured in an explosion at an arms factory ^[170] .

July 5 Five Egyptians were abducted by armed militants ^[171] . July 20, three French soldiers died during an intelligence operation in Libya ^[172] .

On August 1, US Air Force military aircraft carried out a series of air strikes on positions of the Islamic State in the city of Surt ^[173] .

August 2 As a result of a car bomb explosion in Benghazi , the second largest city in Libya, 22 people were killed and another 20 were injured ^[174] .

On August 23, the Libyan Government of the National Accord troops carry out a new operation to capture Surt ^[175] .

On September 18, the Libyan army was able to repel the attack of Islamic radicals on the country's oil ports ^[176] .

October 14 In Libya, no less than 14 soldiers were killed in one day, another 25 to 30 were injured in battles for the city of Surt against the militants of the Islamic State terrorist group. Losses on the part of the militants were not reported ^[177] .

October 29 In the east of Libya in the region of Keesh there was a terrorist attack, as a result of which at least four people were killed and another 14 were injured ^[178] .

On October 31, Libyan troops loyal to the government in Tripoli launched an assault on the last stronghold of the Islamic State group in the city of Surt, militants stubbornly resist, the press service of the operation to liberate the city reported. ^[179]

On November 3, US Marines attacked militants of the Islamic State terrorist group in Libya with the help of Bell AH-1 Super Cobra helicopters ^[180] .

November 15 One of the leaders of the al-Qaeda terrorist network was liquidated in southern Libya as a result of an aerial drone strike ^[181] .

On November 21, an armed conflict broke out in the city of Sabha between two influential clans over a monkey. 16 were killed and 50 injured. ^[182]

On November 26, the offensive by the Libyan National Accord troops on the positions of militants of the Islamic State group in Surt ended in the death of at least eight soldiers ^[183] .

On December 5, the Libyan Army, with the support of US air strikes, completely liberated the city of Surt from the militants ^[184] .

2017

In January 2017, advancing south of Libya, Haftar forces clashed with forces loyal to the Government of National Unity , which Haftar does not recognize. According to the field marshal, after Benghazi falls under the pressure of his troops, he will begin the fight against extremists from Derna, using all means against them. The general, unlike the Islamists, has his own air force.

January 21 In Libya, a car exploded near the Italian Embassy. Two dead ^[185] .

In early March, the Libyan National Army, during a special operation, returned the coastal cities of Ras al-Anuf and Es Sidr, where two important oil terminals are located, which were controlled by the Islamic Benghazi Defense Brigades ^[186] . In Tripoli, clashes occurred by armed groups using armored vehicles, including tanks ^[187] .

7 марта Палата представителей проголосовала за приостановку политического диалога и действия Схиратского соглашения. Группировка боевиков, ранее известная как «Бригады обороны Бенгази» готовится к штурму оплота генерала Халифы Хафтара на востоке Ливии ^[188] . Спикер Палаты представителей Ливии Агила Салех Иса призвал к проведению президентских выборов и выборов в законодательные органы власти до февраля 2018 года. Также палата представителей Ливии проголосовала за приостановку политического диалога и действия Схиратского соглашения. Депутаты, в частности, отменили прежнее решение от 26 января 2016 года об утверждении этого соглашения и президентского совета, которым руководит Фаиз Сарадж ^{[189] [190]} .

18 марта МиГ-21 ВВС Ливии был сбит боевиками в городе Бенгази на северо-востоке страны, пилот успел катапультироваться ^[191] .

29 марта Три члена одной семьи стали жертвами крушения истребителя в городе Тобрук на востоке Ливии ^[192] .

20 мая Как минимум 141 человек погиб в результате атаки на авиабазу Ливийской национальной армии (ЛНА) на юге страны ^[193] .

27 мая Жертвами столкновений в Ливии стали 52 человека.

28 мая группировка «Ансар аль-Шариа» объявила о самороспуске.

2 июня Ливийская армия отбила у «Аль-Каиды» город Ваддан.

28 июня В Сети появилось шокирующее видео казни 18 мужчин, предположительно, боевиков террористической группировки ИГИЛ.

4 июля Пять человек погибли при попадании ракеты по пляжу в Триполи.

5 июля Хафтар объявил о полном освобождении от террористических группировок второго по значимости города Ливии — Бенгази после двух лет боёв. По словам Хафтара, на уровне Ливии война с терроризмом завершится лишь после полного выкорчевывания его с территории страны ^[194] .

24 сентября ВС США разбомбили лагерь ИГ в Ливии, 17 боевиков уничтожено.

4 октября Четыре человека стали жертвами теракта в Ливии.

7 октября Два солдата убиты под Триполи.

31 октября Неопознанный истребитель нанес удар по городу Дерна в Ливии. Погибли по меньшей мере 15 человек.

26 декабря Боевики устроили взрыв на трубопроводе в Ливии.

2018 год

12 января Вооруженные люди напали на дом министра обороны Ливии.

15 января Жертвами столкновений в Ливии стали более 20 человек.

24 января Теракт в ливийском Бенгази унес жизни 41 человека.

25 января В Ливии публично казнили подозреваемых в организации теракта в Бенгази.

3 февраля Четыре человека погибли в результате перестрелки между ливийской армией и боевиками ИГ.

5 февраля Военные начали операцию против боевиков в портовом городе Дерна на востоке Ливии.

9 февраля Террористы оставили пакет с бомбой у входа в мечеть Абу Хурайра в ливийском городе Бенгази, при взрыве погибли восемь человек.

21 февраля Смертник подорвал взрывчатку на армейском КПП в провинции Эль-Джуфра в центральной части Ливии, в результате погибли трое солдат ливийских войск.

24 февраля Неподалеку от контрольно-пропускного пункта в Мурзуке в южном районе Ливии произошли вооруженные столкновения, в результате чего три человека погибли.

1 марта ИГ объявило о «возобновлении войны в Ливии», взяв на себя ответственность за теракт в Джуфра.

19 марта Ливийская национальная армия (ЛНА) потерпела поражение в столкновение с джихадистами города Дерна. В результате короткой стычки, части ЛНА отступили с позиций, оставив противнику некоторое количество техники.

24 марта ВС США нанесли удары по террористам на юге Ливии, уничтожены два боевика.

29 марта Не менее 8 человек стали жертвами теракта в Ливии.

2 апреля Ливия начала военную операцию по борьбе с остатками ИГ.

4 апреля Бой вспыхнул в южной Дерне после нападения со стороны Совета Шуры на позиции сил Хафтара в Дахаре Аль-Хамаре.

2 мая В Ливии террористы напали на избирком, погибли 16 человек.

4 мая В ходе боевых действий против экстремистских группировок в восточном городе Дерна погибли четыре военнослужащих ливийской армии.

7 мая после отвергнутого ультиматума о сдаче генерал Халифа Хафтар приказал штурмовать город Дерна.

8 мая Войска ливийского маршала Хафтара штурмуют город Дерна.

9 мая Четыре человека погибли в результате теракта на КПП в Ливии.

15 мая Генерал Хафтар провел бомбардировку Дерны.

16 мая Ливийская национальная армия вновь потерпела поражение в боях с джихадистами, контролирующими город Дерна.

17 мая Ливийская национальная армия (ЛНА) продолжает стягивать дополнительные силы для штурма города Дерна.

22 мая Террористы атаковали КПП армии Хафтара в Ливии.

23 мая Ливийская национальная армия (ЛНА) Халифа Хафтара активизировала наступление на город Дерна.

25 мая В Ливии взорвали автомобиль, погибло восемь человек.

28 мая Силы Хафтара освободили от боевиков западные ворота ливийской Дерны.

30 мая Восемь человек погибли при взрыве мин в ливийской Дерне.

2 июня ВВС ливийского маршала Халифы Хафтара нанесли авиаудары по складам оружия, принадлежащим боевикам "Совета шуры моджахедов Дерны".

3 июня Ливийские военные продвигаются вглубь стратегической Дерны.

4 июня Ливийские военные освободили от террористов большую часть города Дерна.

12 июня Двойной взрыв произошел в ливийской Дерне, в результате погибли многие мирные жители.

17 июня ВВС Ливии нанесли удары по боевикам в районе нефтяных портов.

21 июня Теракт в Ливии, погибло четверо военнослужащих Хафтара. В Ливии идут бои за крупное нефтяное месторождение.

24 июня В боях за нефтяные порты погибли 28 солдат ливийской армии.

25 июня Ливийские военные ликвидировали одного из главарей "Аль-Каиды".

28 июня Ливийская национальная армия освободила от террористов город Дерна.

14 августа Хафтар заявил об освобождении 90% Ливии от террористов.

23 августа Семь человек погибли в результате нападения на КПП в Ливии.

28 августа США нанесли авиаудар в Ливии, ликвидировав боевика ИГ.

2 сентября В столице Ливии начались бои на улицах города.

September 10 A series of explosions thundered at the office of an oil company in the Libyan capital. At least six people were killed.

September 23 The death toll in the clashes in Tripoli rose to 115 people.

September 26 In Libya, announced a new truce between armed groups.

October 29 In Libya, four people were killed in an attack by IS militants.

On November 30, the United States destroyed 11 terrorists in Libya.

December 25 Suicide attack on the Libyan Foreign Ministry in Tripoli. Despite the surprise of the attack, the terrorists failed to realize their plan: one of the militants was killed in a battle with security at the entrance, and only one or two floors of the building were partially captured. Arriving at the scene, security officers cordoned off the building and immediately took it by storm. Recent militants showed rather weak resistance - according to eyewitnesses, one of them self-blew up and the other was shot. There is still no accurate data on the losses; the total number of killed and wounded during this attack in various sources is estimated from 12 to 21 people.

2019

On January 15, 2019 , the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, announced the start of a large-scale operation in the south-west of the country. As LNA speaker Ahmed al-Mismari said at a press conference in Benghazi, which was broadcast by satellite TV channels, the military’s task will be to free the region from terrorists from the Islamic State, Al Qaeda and numerous criminal gangs.

On January 16, five people were killed in clashes in Tripoli.

January 19 At least 13 people were killed and 52 injured in armed clashes in Tripoli.

On January 28, LNA took control of the city of Sebha in southern Libya.

On February 1, the LNA repelled an attack by militants in the south of the country. The result of the battle was heavy losses from the militants. Control of the Ghadwa region south of the Sabha passed to the Libyan army.

On February 6, the Libyan Armed Forces, controlled by Marshal Haftaru, without a fight took the largest oil field in the country.

On February 21, the Haftar Army captured the city of Murzuk in southern Libya. According to the LNA, three soldiers were killed during the fighting. According to the Libyan channel Al-Ahrar, 11 people were killed and 15 injured during the assault.

Attack on Tripoli

On April 4, the commander of the Libyan National Army, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, ordered the Libyan National Army (LNA) to launch an attack on the capital of Tripoli (the intention was to “clear Tripoli of terrorists” - this is the name of the Libyan national unity government led by Faiz Saraj in Benghazi ^{[ 195]} . The offensive in Tripoli is conducted from several directions at once ^{[196] The} so-called military council of the “revolutionaries” Misurata (field commanders who formally submit to Saraj) in his communiqué announced his readiness to resist the “sinister offensive” ^[197] . That very night, PNS ministers, including Prime Minister Faiz Saraj, fled to neighboring Tunisia ^[198] . Great Britain asked the UN Security Council to convene an emergency meeting ^[199] . On the same day, having occupied three small cities on the way to Tripoli, LNA units entered the territory of Tripoli International Airport (destroyed since 2014) ^[200] .

On January 3, 2016, UN Special Envoy for Libya Martin Kobler announced the readiness of the German troops to go to Tunisia , where the headquarters of the Government of National Unity, headed by Faiz Saraj , is located to train the Libyan troops in the fight against IS . This initiative was announced by the German Foreign Ministry on December 13, 2015. Italy expressed its readiness to join the mission ^[201] . Earlier, in December 2015, US special forces , who also arrived in Libya to establish contacts, were expelled from the country by Libyan armed forces. A source in the Pentagon said that US troops went to Libya to establish relations and strengthen contacts with their colleagues from the Libyan national army. “Already in Libya, fighters of local armed groups demanded that US troops leave the country. In order to avoid conflict, they did just that, ”a TASS source said. The Pentagon spokesman emphasized that the US military was in Libya with the consent of local officials, without specifying which side they belonged to ^[202] .

On April 30, media reported that the Italian-British NATO Special Forces convoy was ambushed by terrorists on their way from Misrata to Surt . It is also reported on the planning of a joint operation against terrorists of the Islamic State in the city of Surt. The presidential council called on all parties to come together and wait for the operation. However, the Commander-in-Chief of East Libya, representing the Government of the House of Representatives , announced his operation in Surt. At the same time, Italy intends to increase its contingent in Libya from 600 to 6,000 soldiers, Britain to 1,000 military men, and the British bank will supply billions of new dinars to Libya by June instead of the old Jamahiriya banknotes to bribe Libyan fighters to seize oil fields from IG ^[203] .

On May 26, the media became aware of the upcoming NATO operation in Libya. A source said that Greece , Italy and Malta closed their airspace for Libyan aircrafts for three months as part of an upcoming operation. He also said that it was planned to start the operation on May 25 ^[204] .

On June 14, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the issue of a joint US-Russian operation in Libya was not on the agenda ^[205] . On the same day, the UN Security Council allowed the European Union to inspect ships going to Libya in order to prevent the transportation of weapons ^[206] . Later, the search began for two ships under the Turkish and Liberian flags, three under the Panamanian , Bolivian and Tanzanian flags and one registered on the Comoros . In addition to these ships, there were others who left Turkish ports, but escaped from special services. Everyone is suspected of transporting arms to Libya for the “Islamic State” ^[207] .

On August 1, air strikes of the US Air Force began on the positions of the Ishilovites, and then the connection of American and British commandos to the battles for Surt. Barack Obama ordered the air strikes on the positions of the Ishilovites in Surt without discussion and sanction by Congress, and the duration of the air operation was not determined by the time frame. Not everyone in Libya supported the government’s decision in Tripoli to invite Americans and their allies to help. The other, a rival government and another parliament led by Agila Salah Isa (based in Tobruk), as well as General Khalifa Haftar, strongly oppose foreign military participation in solving Libyan problems. After the first American bombs fell on Libyan territory, the government in Tobruk called for an explanation from the American ambassador ^[208] .