Civil war in Libya since 2014

date	May 2014 to date
place	Libya
Exit	Open. Since March 2015 peace talks between the two parliaments in Morocco and Algeria by UNSMIL , spread of "IS" offshoots in the country.
Parties to the conflict

date	May 2014 to date
place	Libya
Exit	Open. Since March 2015 peace talks between the two parliaments in Morocco and Algeria by UNSMIL , spread of "IS" offshoots in the country.
Parties to the conflict

The civil war in Libya since 2014 is a military conflict between troops and militias of the government of Fayiz al-Sarradsch under the Government of National Accord (GNA), which controls parts of western Libya with the capital Tripoli , as well as the troops of the ruler of eastern Libya, Khalifa Haftar . The United Nations stated that by August 2015 there were 435,000 internally displaced persons and that around one million people had fled to Tunisia .

Around 2.4 million people in Libya need humanitarian assistance, while around 1.2 million suffer from malnutrition or starve (most of them in Benghazi, which has been contested since 2014 ). Around 250,000 refugees from other countries are in Libya, who are often exposed to violence and sexual assault or are used for forced labor .

The conflict experienced an additional escalation through the intervention of the terrorist organization “ Islamic State ” (IS) in the fighting. In autumn 2014, IS declared an emirate in Libya , fought both sides, carried out attacks in their areas and temporarily brought some areas under its control. In the IS stronghold of Sirte , IS fighters established a terror regime characterized by atrocities and crimes against humanity. In 2016, ISIS largely lost its territories in Libya and went underground.

The national minority of the Tuareg took advantage of the situation and established a practically independent state in the south-west of Libya in a region around the Ghat .

The chairman of the African Union Commission , Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma , said in April 2015 that there is “no state as such” in Libya; this had been feared earlier because of the contrast between the western and eastern parts of the country.

On December 17, 2015, a peace treaty was agreed between the rival camps from Tobruk and Tripoli, which provides for the rebuilding of the Libyan state and its institutions and a unity government under Fayiz al-Sarradsch by 2018 . However, after the formation of the new government, the parliament did not recognize the new government, which degraded the government, originally intended as a “unity government”, to another civil war party. However, it was able to assert itself in Tripolitania and militarily defeated its competitors of the New General National Congress there in May 2017 and the allies of the Tobruk camp in November 2017, which led to a permanent military stalemate. Since October 2017, an agreement to form a joint army of the two armed forces from West Libya and East Libya has been discussed in Egypt .

Drawing on his militia and a network of alliances he had formed with local leaders within five years, Khalifa Haftar marched his troops on the capital Tripoli in the spring of 2019. Supported by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and apparently reinforced by mercenaries from the Russian group Wagner , he demands to be appointed "National Military Leader" who should not be subject to any political control.

Five years after the start of the refugee crisis in Europe from 2015 , in which Libya is considered a transit country for refugees to Europe, and nine years after the start of the civil war in Libya in February 2011 , the conflicting parties and their supporting states made a decision in an international conference in January 2020 in Berlin to a ceasefire , an arms embargo and a withdrawal of all foreign combat units before the parties broke all agreements and the war was continued.

To the background

After the civil war and international military intervention in 2011 , the country was rocked by fighting between rival militias . Since the overthrow of long-time ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi , large parts of the country have been under the control of these militias, which did not submit to the National Transitional Council . Political observers spoke of a power struggle between the militias and the transition council and warned of a new civil war.

In addition to the permanently poor security situation since 2011, the crisis was triggered by two key events in particular. On the one hand, General Khalifa Haftar had the Libyan parliament occupied by his private al-Saika army in May 2014 . The aim of this action was to take Islamists prisoner. Haftar's troops declared: "We, members of the army and revolutionaries, announce the suspension of the General National Congress." Then his troops and supporters hunted down his political opponents.

The conflict finally escalated after the parliamentary elections in Libya in 2014 were not recognized by the Islamist alliance Dawn . This alliance then occupied the capital and drove the government and parliament to the east of the country. After the conquest of the capital by the troops of the General National Congress, the counter-government is said to have committed serious human rights violations against political opponents and civilians.

Since February 2015, the United Nations has been trying to form a unified government out of both governments in order to stop the civil war, stabilize the country and fight the terrorist group "Islamic State".

Groups involved in the Libyan civil war

The two main warring parties around Fayiz al-Sarradsch and Chalifa Haftar do not in fact have a single army fighting for them, but rather a network of militias, tribes, mercenaries and criminal gangs, some of which are enemies with one another.

The "unity government"

After the government formed from the parliamentary elections in 2014 was overthrown by Islamist militias and the previously internationally recognized government under Abdullah Thenni was forced to flee eastwards, a new, internationally recognized unity government emerged in 2015 with the mediation of the UN Fayiz as-Sarradsch (also written Sarraj or Serraj ). This "government of national unity" was proclaimed by signing a contract on December 17, 2015 and was intended to serve as a temporary solution until the next parliamentary elections after two years. De facto, however, this unity government with Tripolitania only controls the north-west of the country.

Until then, however, the capital Tripoli had been controlled by Islamist militias who tried to prevent Sarradsch from arriving at his official residence in March 2016 by all means. Ultimately, the head of government's entry into the Libyan capital from his Tunisian exile was only possible on a warship via the Abu Sita military base. This was followed by fighting in Tripoli between the unity government and the militias that controlled the city. After that, also under international pressure and support for Sarradsch, the new unity government was able to gradually gain control over Tripoli. However, the "counter-government" in eastern Libya did not renounce its claims to power and continues to control (2018) most of the country.

Towards the end of the “transition period”, in 2017, General Chalifa Haftar , who leads the Libyan army in the east ruled by Tobruk, spoke up more often and made claims to power. As a militia leader, he had already attacked the parliament in Tripoli in 2014.

The Armed Forces of the Unity Government - Libyan Army

The government's “Libyan Army” consists of parts of the Libyan armed forces and three larger militia alliances.

"Dawn": The militia based in Misrata is the largest group here and is said to include 40,000 fighters. The air forces of the "Libyan Army" are stationed in Misrata.
"Libya's protective shield": an alliance of various Islamist militias that are said to be close to al-Qaeda . Parts of it are said to have joined the "IS offshoots". They are said to include between 6,000 and 12,000 fighters.
"LROR" (Operations Center of the Libyan Revolutionaries) ( Arabic غرفة عمليات ثوار ليبيا): The "LROR" was founded by former President Busahmein in May 2013 as a kind of Praetorian Guard . The militia is said to have been responsible for the kidnapping of former Prime Minister Ali Seidan . The "LROR" should include a few hundred fighters.

criticism

This alliance is accused of working with radical Islamist and terrorist groups such as Ansar al-Sharia and striving for an Islamic state . Individual groups within the alliance are considered to be closely related to al-Qaeda . After the conquest of Tripoli, they were accused of grossly violating human rights against their political opponents. In particular, the most radical Islamist militias who strive for an Islamist state of God are seen as a major obstacle to the formation of a unity government.

The government in the east

The government under Prime Minister Abdullah Thenni resides in al-Baida . Its current head of state is Aguila Saleh Issa , who has been the official head of state of Libya since 2014. It is based on the Council of Representatives elected in 2014 , which resides in Tobruk .

The Parliament , however, according to a ruling by the Libyan Court, which has its headquarters in Tripoli, "illegal" in November, 2014. The government in Tobruk does not recognize this judgment because it is said to have come about under threat of violence. The government controls most of the east of Libya as well as the region of the Jabal Nafusa mountainous country in the west with the city of az-Zintan . It is allied with the forces of Khalifa Haftar . Together they form the alliance “Dignity” ( Arabic عملية الكرامة Amaliya al-Karama ).

The government controls most of Libya, although many regions have little population and the situation in Fessan between the Tubu , Tuareg and Islamist militias (who use the desert as a retreat) is very unclear.

Haftar's Armed Forces - Libyan National Army (LNA)

Emblem of al-Saika

The armed forces of Libya are at the side of the government in the east . In May 2014, Haftar was accused by Prime Minister Thenni, the Libyan armed forces and the Libyan parliament of attempting a coup after his militias stormed the parliament in Tripoli. He has since acted as an opaque warlord .

Before his appointment as commander in chief of the army, Haftar relied on his 5,000-strong al-Saika militia. He is still in charge of this.

criticism

The Alliance, especially General Haftar, is accused by its opponents of wanting to establish a military dictatorship in Libya . These allegations were made against General Haftar himself in the summer of 2014 by some of his current allies, such as B. Prime Minister Abdullah Thenni . In May 2014, Thenni referred to Haftar and his troops as "outlaws". Since General Haftar's armed forces are de facto only under the control of Haftar and his General Staff and are indiscriminately waging war against both his Islamist and political opponents, they are seen as a major obstacle to the formation of a unity government. She is also accused of serious human rights violations and arbitrary destruction.

International actors

Allies and supporters of the government of Fayiz as-Sarradsch (Sarraj)

United States United States : US special forces have been in the country since December 2015, but the US government only confirms that the units are in the country for advice. In 2016, the US supported an offensive against ISIS in Sirte with air strikes and since then has continued to occasionally bomb Al-Qaeda and IS positions in the center of the country, most recently in September 2017 when, according to US reports, over a dozen Islamists were killed be.
Italy Italy : Italy is considered Serraj's closest ally. Since 2016, Italy has maintained a field hospital for sanitary and humanitarian aid in Misrata, Operation Hippocrates . In the opinion of the opposition, however , the Italian parliament was not informed about the dispatch of the units to Libya at the time. In 2017, six ships were deployed to the port of Tripoli from the Finance Guard , Operation Safe Sea , which is designed to help the Libyan Coast Guard fight human trafficking and illegal immigration. In 2018, both missions were combined under one command and continue to run under the abbreviation MIASIT ( Missione bilaterale di assistenza e supporto in Libia ). The Italian contingent consists of 400 soldiers.
France France admitted on July 20, 2016 that special forces were operating in Libya. This came after a helicopter carrying three soldiers crashed during an intelligence operation. However, as early as February 2016, Le Monde reported that special forces were in the country.
United Kingdom United Kingdom : Great Britain reportedly sent SAS soldiers to Libya. However, the UK government has refused to comment on the matter. The soldiers are to work closely with Jordanian special forces. One only admits to using the Royal Air Force for reconnaissance flights in Libya.
Turkey Turkey : Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has supported numerous Islamist movements since the upheaval in the Arab world in 2011. The Muslim Brotherhood in particular has been generously sponsored by Erdoğan since 2011. After Tunisia was temporarily ruled by the Ennahda and Egypt by the Freedom and Justice Party and in Libya the Justice and Building Party was close to the former head of state Nuri Busahmein , these plans seemed to work. But after the Muslim Brotherhood was overthrown in the course of the military coup in Egypt in 2013 and the Ennahda in Tunisia was voted out , the Turkish government is concentrating on at least keeping the counter-government in Tripoli. On February 23, 2015, the recognized government of Libya ended its cooperation with all Turkish companies that had previously had a strong presence in the Libyan oil industry. Since 2015, Air Libya flights between Tripoli and Turkey should also make a stopover in the eastern part of Libya so that neither jihadists from Syria or Iraq , nor fighters, weapons and supplies for “ Dawn ” come into the country.

Turkey remained active on the side of the GNA in the Libyan civil war, and has been in action in Libya with its own drone systems since 2019 at the latest. A report by the US Department of Defense in September 2020 made serious allegations against the Syrian mercenaries in Libya, which were supported by Turkey. According to AFRICOM , the mercenaries from Syria are inexperienced, uneducated and motivated only by the prospect of high earnings. The thefts and sexual assaults they have committed have further worsened the security situation in western Libya. The ministry put the number of Syrian mercenaries at 5,000, commanded and paid by the private Turkish mercenary company Sadat , plus several hundred regular Turkish troops, including the personnel responsible for controlling the drone systems.

Qatar Qatar : Qatar also emerged as a major supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood after the Arab upheaval in 2011. Since the end of the revolution in 2011, Qatar has financially supported Islamist movements in Libya in particular. In February 2015, Thenni accused Qatar of delivering weapons to Dawn.
Jordan Jordan : Jordanian special forces are to work closely with the British SAS.
Sudan Sudan : In June 2014, General Haftar's spokesman accused Sudan of passing on weapons paid for by Qatar to Islamist militias around Abd al-Hakim Balhaj. The Sudanese armed forces denied this. However, a UN commission found that Sudan had rented three Mil Mi-24 /35 attack helicopters to Libya in violation of the arms embargo . In order to prevent and intercept air transport from Sudan, the Haftar-loyal air defense department has announced that it will install P-12 and P-18 radars in the Kufra oases near the Libyan-Sudanese border . In February 2015, the Sudanese government of Umar al-Bashir declared its recognition and support of the government in Tobruk.

Ukraine : the role of Ukraine in the conflict is very unclear. In August 2014, a Libyan-Turkish delegation first visited Ukraine to buy assault rifles and ammunition. In February 2015, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin was the first foreign minister in the world to receive a “Dawn” delegation in Kiev . Observers assume that “Dawn” wants to make Mig-23 fighter planes from the time of the Gaddafi regime operational again with Ukrainian help . These efforts seem to have been successful. "Dawn" has had its own air force since February 2015, which has carried out attacks on government cities such as Ras Lanuf or az-Zintan . The reasons why Ukraine is present in Libya, as in the case of Belarus, are likely to result from the fact that many of the weapon systems of the Libyan militias come from the former USSR or Russia. Therefore, both Ukraine and Belarus have the technical means to deliver spare parts or ammunition. It is speculative that the economy in Ukraine is doing extremely badly and that the opposing government with Qatar has a solvent sponsor by hand. Such cooperation was seen at least in the civil war in Syria . Here Turkey (as a transit country), Ukraine (as an arms transporter), Sudan (as an arms manufacturer) and Qatar (as a sponsor) worked closely together in arming the Syrian opposition. This is the same coalition that is now suspected of arming the opposing government.

Allies and supporters of General Haftar

Egypt Egypt : Egypt's intervention in the war has both domestic and foreign policy reasons. In terms of foreign policy, the government in Cairo fears that, in the midst of chaos, Libya could become or is in fact in the process of becoming a retreat for ISIS. Since one is already fighting against radical Islamists and IS offshoots in the course of the Sinai uprising on the Sinai Peninsula , there is fear of a two-front war here. After the military coup in Egypt in 2013 , the Egyptian military was able to overthrow the Muslim Brotherhood ruling there . After "Fajr Libia" was able to take Tripoli, many Muslim Brotherhood fled to Tripoli. Cairo therefore supports General Haftar in the hope that he will fight both the IS offshoots and the domestic enemies of the Egyptian government. Egypt is suspected to have supplied Mil Mi-8 helicopters and MIG-21 fighter jets.

United Arab Emirates : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) oppose Fajr Libia primarily for domestic political reasons. They are striving for order before the Arab Spring 2011 and are fighting independently Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Since February 2015, an agreement has been reached with the government of Sudan (which supports the opposing government) to set up a transitional government in Libya.
The air forces of both countries have carried out various attacks on cities of the opposing government such as Tripoli or Misrata since August 2014 . In 2019, the UAE flew a total of 850 drone and jet attacks against Sarraj.

Russia : Before 2011, Libya bought weapons in large numbers from Russia. These relationships are now to be renewed again. As relations between Egypt (Haftar's most important ally) and Russia are also growing closer and Russia's economy is going through a crisis, Libya offers itself as a new export market. Private mercenaries from the Russian Wagner group are involved in the conflict. In September 2020, the US Department of Defense put the number of Russian mercenaries at 3,000, and another 2,000 Russian-backed Syrian mercenaries fought on Haftar's side.

Belarus Belarus : According to the UN report, Belarus delivers weapons to the government troops despite the arms embargo, including 3,000 tons of ammunition. Ghadames Airport was flown fifteen times , where weapons were handed over to the militias from az-Zintan ("Zintan Brigades"). Between August 31, 2014 and September 21, 2014 alone, 900 tons of ammunition were delivered to the government in 20 flights. Belarus' interest in the conflict is likely to be based solely on economic reasons. The state arms factories Belvnezhpromserwis often deliver weapons against existing arms embargoes in civil war countries.

The terrorist organizations "Islamic State" and "al-Qaida"

The confused situation in Libya between the two governments with their international allies, an unclear legal situation, numerous autonomous militias and warlords working on their own account are exploiting branches of the terrorist organizations "Islamic State" and " al-Qaida " to fight both alliances and their territories to conquer. The first Libyan city that the branch of the "IS" controlled was Darna . The attempts of "Amaliya al-Karamah" to recapture the city failed. The “IS” offshoot was even able to initially expand its presence in the Darna area (despite help from the Egyptian Air Force for “dignity”). It was not until the summer of 2015 that a coalition of Islamist militias and armed residents succeeded in expelling IS from Darna. Another new stronghold of the "IS" is in Sirte . As a result of the capture of an-Nufalija , this city was apparently captured in February 2015 after fighting with the militias of "Fajr Libia". The Firjan tribe refused to submit to ISIS ; thereupon the terrorist militia shot and killed a preacher who was a member of this tribe. Subsequently, mostly young Firjan people rose up against their rule. In revenge, IS killed numerous tribesmen, the data on the death toll vary between 38 and 200. The victims of IS were crucified and beheaded in public in the city. Neither of the two Libyan governments came to the aid of the city's anti-ISIS residents.

After the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians in Sirte, Egypt openly intervened in the war for the first time and bombed Libyan positions of the "IS". Qatar then recalled its ambassador from Egypt. Following this move, Egypt accused Qatar of supporting “terrorism” in Libya. The Gulf Cooperation Council, however, criticized Egypt for "false accusations". While the war between “dignity” and “dawn” continues to escalate and both sides are launching air strikes on the cities of the other side, “IS” succeeds in moving forward against both sides in March 2015 in Libya. A Libyan human rights activist wrote on March 3, 2015: “So many bombings in Libya today. And none of them against IS. "

The course of the war since May 2014

16.-18. May 2014: "Operation Dignity" - offensives in Benghazi and Tripoli

The war began on May 16, 2014 with an offensive by Haftar's forces in Benghazi against Islamist groups such as Ansar al-Sharia . This is said to be responsible for several kidnappings and murders, including the then US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens . The Libyan Air Force and the As-Saiqa Special Forces also joined this fight . The fighting continued at the end of February 2015 and is one of the focal points of the war. The Benghazi airport in particular is fought over between the Libyan National Army and Ansar al-Sharia.

On May 17, 2014, Haftar announced that the Libyan parliament had been ousted and that Tripoli would soon be "liberated". He stated that the General National Congress was illegal because parliament had tolerated terrorists gaining a foothold in Libya. Prime Minister Thenni, in turn, described Haftar's offensive as illegal. The government then imposed a no-fly zone over Benghazi.

Haftar's militias tried to take Tripoli on May 18, 2014 . Equipped with anti-aircraft guns , mortars and rocket launchers loaded on pick-ups , the Libyan National Congress was attacked. Many MPs are said to have "run for their lives" here. On the same day officers announced the dissolution of the National Congress. 40 members of parliament and most of the army joined Haftar. On May 21, 2014, the Alliance of National Forces announced that it would support Haftar against "the forces of terrorism, darkness, murder and chaos". The interior minister also joined the new alliance.

In a televised address, Haftar, surrounded by officers, accused the Islamist-led parliament of having made Libya a state that would “sponsor terrorism” and in which “terrorists” would infiltrate the government and the state. But the coup failed when the first fighting from Tagiura and Tripoli was reported. Ansar al-Sharia accused Haftar of waging a "war on Islam" and called him the "real terrorist". Haftar's alliance described them as a mixture of “former members of the Gaddafi regime and their masters from the West”.

22.-31. May: Pro-Haftar demonstrations:

Pro-Haftar protesters

The days after the dramatic escalation of both camps were marked by mass protests for General Haftar. Tens of thousands of Libyans demonstrated for Haftar with shouts and banners such as “No to the militias, otherwise Libya will become a new Afghanistan ”. In Tripoli people demonstrated against parliament and in support of the "National Army". They sang the national anthem and carried banners that read "Yes to dignity" and "Libya is in big trouble, we want the police, we want the army!"

The Fridays on May 23 and 30, 2014, were called "days of dignity" by supporters of Haftar (after the offensive that Haftar launched a week earlier). Part of the government supported the protests in a statement. Within the government itself there was bitter struggle between the two camps for the post of prime minister. At first the Islamist camp seemed to prevail with the election of Ahmed Miitig . But then the pro-Haftar camp with Defense Minister Thenni was able to gain the upper hand.

June 2014: General election and fighting in Benghazi

In June 2014, Thenni and his cabinet left Tripoli for al-Baida as the situation in the heated capital became too uncertain. Tarek Mitri , head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya , tried to restart the talks between the two camps. On the same day, Haftar had his enemies' positions bombed by his air force.

In June 2014, Haftar's forces launched various attacks on Benghazi. But they did not succeed in taking the city. The US, however, succeeded in capturing the alleged Islamist terrorist Ahmed Abu Chatallah using a special command . On June 22, 2014, General Haftar announced a 48-hour ultimatum in which all citizens of Qatar and Turkey would have to leave eastern Libya.

In this chaos, the parliamentary election in Libya in 2014 took place, which was marked by the murder of political opponents. For example, on June 25, 2014, human rights activist Salwa Bughaigis was shot dead in Benghazi. The election won the forces around Haftar.

July 2014: Battle of Tripoli and the capture of Benghazi by Ansar al-Sharia

At the beginning of July 2014, the groups that had not recognized the election result at the end of June or were in opposition to Haftar gathered their troops in the vicinity of Tripoli and began an offensive on the capital on July 13, 2014 under the code name Fajr Libia . The battle for Tripoli Airport took place for around a month at the International Airport . The fighting was carried out with heavy artillery and Grad rocket launchers. The civil war that had broken out reached a new dimension with the intervention of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The air forces of both countries supported the government troops (Haftars) in the defense of Tripoli and bombed positions of " Dawn ". The Libyan civil war had now reached its next level of escalation and had become the proxy war of the regional powers.

At the end of July 2014, the UN evacuated its personnel after 13 people fell victim to the fighting. Most of the foreign embassies now also withdrew their staff from Tripoli. Mohamed Sowan, spokesman for the Justice and Building Party (local branch of the Muslim Brotherhood), welcomed the offensive on the capital. It is necessary as a response to Haftar's "Operation Dignity" offensive.

In Benghazi, too, the government troops fell on the defensive. Here Ansar al-Sharia proclaimed an emirate in Libya in July 2014 . Later this emirate swore allegiance to the " Islamic State " under leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi . Haftar described the withdrawal of the army from Benghazi as a "tactical retreat".

August 2014: Conquest of Tripoli by "Dawn"

In August 2014, the Council of Representatives passed a law that formally dissolved the insurgent militias in the West. At the same time, Parliament asked the UN for help in coming to terms with the uprising in the West.

The city of Darna in the east became more and more a focal point in the war. It has been a stronghold of radical Islamists for years. Supporters of "IS" formed in the surrounding area and fighting began against Haftar's armed forces.

On August 12, the Tripoli police chief was murdered. On August 17, 2014, initially unidentified aircraft bombed "Dawn" positions in Tripoli - later the Libyan national army Haftars confessed to it. On August 23, 2014, Dawn announced that Tripoli had fallen into their hands after a month of fighting. After the fall of the capital, the “Dawn” militias began to “settle accounts” with the supporters of General Haftar and the government. Numerous people were killed or kidnapped, including the former Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur .

In the midst of this turmoil, the transitional government of Thenni, which had once fled Tripoli to the east of the country, announced its resignation. Shortly thereafter, this government finally lost control of Tripoli, where armed militiamen blocked ministries and state buildings.

The Council of Representatives declared the opposing government to be "terrorists". This had now reinstated the old parliament as the “New General National Congress” and declared the parliament in Tobruk to be “illegal”. For security reasons, the Council of Representatives met on a Greek ferry near the Egyptian border.

Development by the end of 2014: Formation of a "counter-government" in Tripoli

With the fall of Tripoli, the National Assembly that fled to Tobruk and the associated government lost control of the country's former capital. There, under the influence of local militias, a new government, known as the “counter-government”, as well as a new parliament of its own is emerging - to which the parliament in Tobruk reacts with a terrorism law aimed at the “Islamist counter-parliament” in Tripoli. From now on, two governments will share control of the country.

In September 2014, Dawn (Fajr Libya) expanded its positions in western Libya. On September 15, 2014, the Berber- populated city of Gharyan was targeted by air strikes, according to General Haftar through the use of his troops. However, US officials blamed the Air Forces of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

In October 2014 there was heavy fighting over Kikla between “Dawn” and the “Sintan Brigades” allied with Haftar. Now the mountainous region of Jabal Nafusa also became a theater of war. In mid-October 2014, Haftar's armed forces and the Egyptian Air Force launched a new offensive on Benghazi.

Fessan too was now a war zone. Tubu militias, which are close to the government in Tobruk, fought here for oil fields against Tuareg militias, who are allied with the counter-government in Tripoli.

At the end of October 2014, the "IS" offshoot was able to conquer Darna . This was the first city that the "Islamic State" was able to bring under its control outside of Iraq and Syria . After that, heavy fighting with government forces took place in the surrounding area.

In November 2014, the government was able to recapture Kikla , while the opposing government in Fezzan announced the capture of the "El Sharara" oil field.

The first peace talks between the two parliaments took place at the beginning of November 2014. These took place in Sudan after mediation by the local government. Since November 2014, however, there have also been increased attacks in the areas of both parliaments. Both Tobruk and Tripoli were targeted by attacks.

On November 24 and 25, 2014, General Haftar's air forces launched new attacks on Tripoli. A court in Tripoli therefore ordered Haftar to be arrested. On December 2, 2014, there were further air strikes by Haftar's forces on the city of Zuwara in western Libya.

In December 2014, there were demonstrations in Tripoli for the re-establishment of the Kingdom of Libya . A constitutional monarchy should end the escalated crisis between the two camps.

At the end of December 2014, “Dawn” began operation “Sunrise” with the aim of conquering the major oil loading ports such as Ras Lanuf . This action was repulsed by the government troops with the help of the air force, but set fire to the largest oil tanks in the country. On December 28th, the government air force bombed Misrata . At the end of December, Dawn also launched an attack on Sirte .

January to February 2015 - offensives of the “Islamic State” in Darna and Sirte

In January 2015, a Greek tanker was bombed off the coast of the city of Darna (occupied by "IS") . On January 6, Turkish Airlines became the last foreign airline to cease operations to Libya.

In mid-January, the head of state of the counter-government, Nuri Busahmein , traveled to Turkey for talks, where he met President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu . On January 16, a ceasefire between “dignity” and “dawn” was agreed. Both sides agreed to further talks under UN mediation.

On January 27, there was an attack on the Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli, killing ten people (including five foreigners). "IS" later claimed responsibility for this attack.

At the beginning of February 2015, the "IS" was able to conquer an oil field south of Sirte . On February 9, "IS" media announced that the small town of an-Nufalija had been captured. Thereupon an emir was installed as a representative of the "caliph" al-Baghdadi. Finally, on February 13th, Sirte was also captured.

On February 15, IS published a video that showed the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya . The Egyptian air forces then flew retaliatory attacks on Derna and the surrounding area. On February 20, the "IS" carried out an attack on Gubba , the home of the interim president Aguila Saleh Issa . 40 people were killed in this attack. Both the US government and the two Libyan alliances condemned the attack.

At the beginning of February, both governments tried to obtain weapons from Russia and Ukraine (despite the existing UN arms embargoes). “Morgenröte” has had its own air force since February. Before new peace talks, Dawn flew air strikes on the government's oil loading stations. "Dignity" then attacked important infrastructure facilities of the opposing government such as Mitiga International Airport .

On February 23, 2015, the United Nations declared in a paper that the arms embargo was becoming more and more permeable and that more and more states would break the embargo. The following were explicitly mentioned: Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Belarus on the part of the government, and Turkey, Sudan, Qatar and the Ukraine on the part of the opposing government.

March 2015: Peace talks and the battle for Sirte

General Haftar's appointment as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Libya (LNA) in early March 2015 led to a further escalation in the civil war. Both sides intensified their air strikes. After the escalation of the air war, both alliances met in Morocco to negotiate a peace treaty and a new joint government. Morocco's Islamist-secular coalition government supports the peace process.

After the peace talks, the government applied to the UN to buy 150 tanks, 150 armored personnel carriers, 10,000 grenade launchers, 1,000 sniper rifles, 8 attack helicopters, 6 combat aircraft, 4 bombers and tens of thousands of assault rifles and ammunition in order to cope with the threat from "IS" to become. At the beginning of March "IS" killed eleven Libyan security guards and kidnapped nine foreign workers in an attack on an oil field. The application was nevertheless rejected. Both governments should first come to an agreement before the arms embargo is lifted. The suppliers of the war goods are supposed to be the Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Serbia .

An exodus of Egyptian guest workers from Libya began between February and March 2015. Up to this point in time, around 900,000 Egyptian citizens were working in Libya. Many of them were then on the run.

In mid-March 2015 there was heavy fighting between “Dawn” and “IS” over the port city of Sirte . In the months of February and March, the "IS" had continuously expanded its presence around Sirte. According to HRW , illegal cluster bombs were used in the bombing of Sirte and Ben Jawad . In mid-March, the “IS” offshoot carried out “retaliation” attacks in Tripoli and on barracks in Misrata .

On March 16, 2015, the EU foreign ministers discussed a possible new military operation in Libya. "Dawn" is now said to lead around 40,000 fighters into the field.

On March 17, 2015, Dawn announced that the leader of Ansar al-Sharia (Tunisia) Abu Zakariya al-Tunisi had been killed in the fighting over Sirte. This was later confirmed by the Internet presence of the "IS". Al-Tunisi is said to have been responsible for the murders of the two Tunisian politicians Chokri Belaïd and Mohamed Brahmi .

On March 18, 2015, the Tunisian government announced that flights between Tunisia and Tripoli and Misrata would be allowed again. Tunisia had previously sent a consul to Tripoli. The first flight should take place on March 19, 2015 between Sfax and Mitiga International Airport .

On the same day, the Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation announced that it would no longer accept orders from either government. It is "neutral" and there for the Libyans, not to fuel the war. However, the government no longer recognizes the board of the Tripoli-based NOC; it has appointed its own board of directors and declared business with the Tripoli NOC illegal. However, the official central bank of Libya based in Tripoli (which is also recognized by the international community), through which business with the NOC has so far been carried out, does not recognize this executive board in the destroyed Benghazi . However, the government in al-Baida is planning to organize its own central bank and has already appointed its own chief executive officer for the central bank, who in turn is not recognized by the Tripoli-based national bank. This whole unclear and completely contradicting legal situation should in turn contribute economically to the decline of Libya.

Haftar had the airport massively bombed at dawn on March 19, 2015. UNSMIL condemned the attack. Actually, there should be new peace talks in Morocco on March 19, 2015. This was postponed because the delegation of the opposing government was only able to travel to Morocco late due to the government's air strikes.

On this day, on which the final peace talks were supposed to be concluded, fighting was reported from various parts of the country. Dawn continues to fight against the "IS" offshoots in Sirte. In the west there was fighting over az-Zawiya between Dawn and the Sintan Brigades. In Fezzan near the village of Brak , Haftar's armed forces reported that they had captured some T-55 and Grad rocket launchers from Dawn.

March 2015: Second battle for Tripoli

On Friday, March 20, 2015, the Libyan armed forces launched a massive offensive on Tripoli. The offensive started almost at the same time as the delegations met in Morocco for peace talks. The armed forces managed to advance as far as al-'Aziziyah . Haftar's press office announced "the liberation of Tripoli within hours". After “Dawn” had moved troops from Sirte to Tripoli, this offensive was repulsed. The troops ordered to Tripoli had fought the "IS" there. The UN special envoy Bernardino Leon condemned the attacks. These are activities that are "unacceptable" to the international community. Subsequently, the Libyan air force bombed Tripoli and the Zuwara airfield several times . An important leader of Fajr Libya was killed.

In the weeks that followed, the fighting concentrated in the south of Tripoli without either side being able to achieve a decisive military breakthrough. During this time, the IS offshoots again carried out various attacks on embassies in Tripoli. From April 13, 2015, new peace talks took place in Algeria. Previously, the prime minister of the counter-government al-Hassi was dismissed. He was accused of being too close to radical Islamist groups.

After the government in Tobruk broke off the talks in March 2015, the Council of Representatives voted 64 against 12 in favor of new peace talks.

April / May 2015: Peace talks and refugee tragedies

In April 2015 there were serious refugee tragedies off the coast of Libya with hundreds of deaths. With the mediation of the United Nations, there were new peace talks between the two warring camps. Furthermore, the powerful independent warlords are an obstacle to an agreement. On May 11, 2015, the government air force bombed a Turkish freighter off the east coast of Libya. While the Turkish government stated that the ship was on its way to Tobruk and loaded plasterboard, the Libyan government stated that the ship was on its way to "IS"-occupied [Darna]. The Turkish government condemned the attack.

December 2015: Renewed peace negotiations

In December, two different peace agreements and two different transitional governments were worked on. While the international community, supported by Libyan actors, prefers its own peace plan, important parties in Libya are striving for their own peace plan and their own transitional government.

On December 17, 2015, representatives of the two rival governments signed an agreement to end the conflict in the Moroccan city of Skhirat, which was drawn up with the support of the United Nations. It provides for the formation of a presidential transitional council, which is to ensure the establishment of a unity government under Fayiz al-Sarradsch within 30 days . In January 2016, however, the parliament in Tobruk rejected a clause in the unification treaty that would have disempowered Army Commander Haftar, and refused to approve the unity government.

September 2016

In September 2016, General Haftar's forces captured the four main oil terminals in Libya: Suwaitina, Brega, Ras Lanuf and Al-Sedra. But as early as March 2017, the terminals were stormed and captured by the Benghazi Brigades. The government from Tripoli under Serraj had repeatedly announced that it wanted to take the important oil terminals.

December 2016: Sirte is retaken

On December 5, 2016, militias loyal to the government announced the retaking of Sirte from IS. The fighting over the city, which had been in the hands of IS since 2015, whose area of rule had expanded to up to 300 kilometers along the coast at its height, had dragged on for months. The recapture by the internationally recognized government in Tripoli was supported by US air strikes.

End of December 2017: the peace agreement expires

On December 17, 2017, Khalifa Haftar announced on the Libya-Alhadath broadcaster that he would not seek an extension and that he would “follow the will of the people”. As a result, there were pro-Haftar demonstrations in Tripoli, Benghazi and al-Chum.

February / March 2019

At the beginning of 2019, Chalifa Haftar's troops took over the large Sharara and Feel oil fields in the Murzuk basin with a production capacity of around 430,000 barrels per day. These had previously been occupied by members of the Petroleum Facilities Guard and members of the Fezzan Rage movement in December 2018 to protest against the neglect of the southern Fezzan region.

April / May 2019: Attempt to march on Tripoli

On April 4, General Khalifa Haftar announced an offensive on the Libyan capital Tripoli. After taking over a control post south of Tripoli without a fight, the LNA took up position 27 kilometers south of the capital. Press research later identified supply flights by Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft of the company "Reem Travel", which has owners in the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan , which at the time apparently flew to military bases under Haftar's control with stopovers in Israel , Egypt and Jordan . The pilots apparently switched off the transponders over Libya , but Haftar's fighters had put videos online that document the unloading of the aircraft at one of his bases. Analysts saw this as evidence of foreign support for the warlord and as a sign of an impending proxy war similar to that in Yemen.

On April 7, Khalifa Haftar's apparently intended takeover of the capital failed and there was fighting in the vicinity of the capital between militias of the Government of the National Accord (GNA) and Haftar's LNA militias. The USA and India announced the withdrawal of troop contingents from Tripoli. On April 7, the Russian Federation prevented the UN Security Council from passing a UN resolution calling on Haftar's attacking troops to end the offensive. Conversely, Russia proposed its own resolution calling on the defenders to stop fighting. Haftar's troops bombed Mitiga Airport on April 8th .

By April 20, Haftar's LNA forces had tried unsuccessfully to overcome the GNA's defenses in southern Tripoli. Targets in Tripoli have been repeatedly attacked from the air. According to eyewitnesses, rockets hit a GNA army camp in the southern Sabaa district on April 20. According to WHO data, 227 people have been killed and 1,128 others have been wounded. On the night of April 27-28, Haftar launched another bombing campaign on Tripoli. The number of people killed rose to 400 up to a month after the offensive began, without the situation having changed significantly; instead there was destruction in the south of Tripoli and 50,000 refugees.

On May 19, militias, which they say belong to Haftar's LNA, occupied the control station for the water supply to Tripoli via the Great Man Made River project and forced the workforce to shut down the supply. After two days supplies were restored. It remained unclear who was responsible for the attack.

Further progress in 2019

On June 27, 2019, GNA forces reported that they had captured the city of Gharyan . In early July, an air strike hit a refugee detention center in Tagiura , killing at least 53 people. Both parties to the civil war accused each other. A condemnation of the attack in the UN Security Council failed due to resistance from the USA.

In November, Libyan counterfeit money was seized in two containers, spread over 56 cubic meters. The Times of Malta named a Russian printer as a source.

On November 24, a US delegation met with Khalifa Haftar to try to end the offensive. Among other things, the USA complained about Russian influence "at the expense of the Libyan people".

On December 26, 2019, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that he would be sending soldiers to Libya. A corresponding law will be presented to the Turkish parliament in early January 2020. According to Erdoğan, the Libyan unity government invited the Turkish troops. Turkey and the unity government had previously concluded an agreement on security and military cooperation, as well as an agreement on sea borders in the Mediterranean, which had met with international criticism.

January 2020: International negotiations to resolve the conflict

On January 4, 2020, a drone attack on a military school in Tripoli kills 26 cadets . On January 6, 2020, Haftar's militias captured the Libyan port city of Sirte .

After negotiations between Russia and Turkey, Haftar and the unity government agreed a ceasefire that should come into effect on the morning of January 12, 2020. However, a few hours after the ceasefire came into force, both sides accused themselves of violating it.

One week later, five years after the start of the refugee crisis in Europe from 2015 , in which Libya is considered a transit country for refugees to Europe, and nine years after the start of the civil war in Libya in February 2011 , the parties to the conflict with their supporting states decided in an international conference in Berlin on a ceasefire , an arms embargo and the withdrawal of all foreign combat units.

Spring 2020: Violation of the arms embargo and land gains by the GNA

After the supply of weapons to both parties by the respective supported states continued despite international negotiations, the EU decided with Operation Irini to monitor compliance with the UN arms embargo by monitoring the air and sea routes via satellite and naval forces from April 1st.

In April 2020, Khalifa Haftar terminated a UN agreement signed in December 2015 that confirmed the distribution of power in Libya. In the same month, mercenaries and militias from Fayiz al-Sarradsch captured the coastal city of Sabrata , west of Tripoli.

In May 2020, Libyan counterfeit money worth US $ 1.1 billion was seized in Malta . As in November 2019, when the same incident occurred in Malta, Russia was named as the sender of the money.

On May 18, Haftar's LNA troops lost their main base of the offensive, the Al-Watiya Air Force Base. Turkish support, particularly in the form of drones , was seen as critical to the National Accord government's (GNA) gaining ground . In December 2019, Turkey started moving drones from Baykar Technologies , which had previously been used against the PYD in Syria, to Libya. The pattern TB2 was used to attack the Libyan National Army (LNA) and its supply lines. The Russian Pantsir S-1 air defense systems supplied to the LNA by the United Arab Emirates proved to be inadequate in the fight against the drones.

After a series of defeats in the Battle of Tripoli , Haftar's fighters withdrew from Tarhuna , their last base in the west of the country, on June 5, 2020 . In a matter of days, Haftar's forces had lost land that had been fought over for 14 months. The remaining local militias, which had previously allied themselves with Haftar, fled after a brief skirmish with GNA troops. On Sirte , the refuge of Haftar and his remaining combat units, the warring GNA fighters began an advance in June 2020. Ghassan Salamé , the head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) who resigned in March 2020 , described the war in summer 2020 as the largest drone war of the time.

Summer and autumn 2020: ceasefire, demonstrations, resignations, layoffs and ceasefire

On August 21, 2020, the GNA and LNA issued separate statements to announce an immediate ceasefire . Two days later, demonstrations began in several Libyan cities, initially directed against deficiencies in the electricity and water supply, the crumbling infrastructure and widespread corruption. Some protesters also called for constitutional elections and a withdrawal of the current ruling classes from power. The demonstrators gathered for several days in "Martyrs' Square" in Tripoli before the demonstrations spread to Misrata and az-Zawiya . The GNA government responded by imposing a curfew based on COVID-19 . Militias affiliated with the government also fired live ammunition at the demonstrators. According to Amnesty International , at least six people were kidnapped by the al-Nawasi militia affiliated with the government. Libya's head of government al-Sarraj then appointed a new defense minister and a new army chief. The dismissed Defense Minister Baschagha, who is supported by militias from Misrata, then traveled to Turkey for talks, which supports both the militias in Tripoli and Misrata. A UN special envoy went to Egypt for talks, which General Haftar supports

At a demonstration on August 23, the pro-government al-Nawasi militia arrested the journalist Sami al-Sharif, who reported for the radio station al-Jawhara. The Committee for the Protection of Journalists and a Libyan civil rights organization demanded his immediate release. The al-Nawasi militia is part of a militia cartel that has controlled large parts of Tripoli since 2017 and that has been enriched by kidnappings and forged letters of credit , among other things . It came to power with the tacit tolerance of UNSMIL and various Western embassies, which hoped to be replaced by a regular presidential guard, but this did not happen.

In September there were also demonstrations against the miserable living conditions of the Libyan population in Benghazi and el Merdj, under General Haftar's control. Forces under Haftar opened fire on demonstrators in el Merdj. The government of Abdullah Thennis , loyal to Haftar , then announced its resignation.

In October 2020, the two conflicting parties agreed on a ceasefire that provides for all foreign mercenaries to be withdrawn from the country within three months and all remaining combat groups to be integrated into the country's police and army. After a subsequent announcement of resignation by al-Sarraji , he withdrew the announcement after the advice of the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in order to avoid a "political vacuum".

February and June 2021: New start for elections and government formation as well as further international negotiations

On February 5, 2021, representatives of rival power groups under UN supervision in Switzerland elected a new interim government under Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeiba , a businessman supported by a three-person presidium. The interim government was supported by both Fayiz al-Sarradsch and Aguila Saleh Issa , but the East Libyan Council of Representatives made support dependent on a positive vote by parliament. She is to prepare elections, which are scheduled for December 24, 2021.

In June 2021, at a Libya conference in Berlin, government representatives from Russia, Turkey, Egypt and 13 other countries committed themselves to withdrawing all non-Libyan combatants from Libya immediately.

International reactions

The peace plan of the UN and the Maghreb countries

Attempts to mediate under the leadership of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have been made since the conflict broke out in summer 2014. The first peace talks failed in October 2014. Since February 2015, there have been new negotiations under the leadership of the UN to establish a unity government from “Amaliya al-Karamah ”and“ Fajr Libia ”. The attempt by Egypt to achieve an end or a relaxation of the arms embargo by the UN and thus to be allowed to supply the Thennis government and provide military support was rejected by the United Nations Security Council on February 19, 2015 , which was followed by a political dialogue There is a unity government on both sides. This unity government is intended to stabilize the country, end the civil war and thus enable lasting, sustainable success over the "IS". The United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain are striving to form a unity government from both alliances. This plan is also supported by Morocco , Algeria and Tunisia and the Arab Maghreb Union . In Tunisia and Morocco, secular and Islamist parties rule the country together in coalition governments; Algeria has been led by an alliance of two secular parties since 2012. Tunisia's Foreign Minister Taieb Baccouche and Algeria's Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said at a joint press conference on March 12, 2015 that the focus would be on how to stop the war and not on which of the two alliances to support. You have the "moral responsibility" to help overcome the crisis. Support the state of Libya and not its governments.

African Union

The African Union's Peace and Security Council set up an International Contact Group for Libya ( ICG-L ) in September 2014 to discuss the situation in Libya.

The conflict has immediate consequences for Africa. According to the UN, more and more weapons are flowing from Libya to Algeria , Tunisia , Mali and Egypt , increasing the effectiveness of terrorist groups there.

European Union

The European Union strongly supports the UN peace talks. She hopes the dialogue will be successful, otherwise she fears chaotic conditions with dramatic consequences for Europe. Without a common government, the country threatens to fall into a vacuum in which groups like "IS" would find it easy to bring parts of the country under control. A unity government would have the full support of the EU in the fight against "IS".

Treatment of an alleged war criminal in Germany

The Libyan militia leader Abderrahim al-Kani, accused by the GNA government of crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious human rights violations, received medical treatment in Germany for years , according to information from the Süddeutsche Zeitung . Together with four of his brothers, he had built up and commanded a private army in the city of Tarhuna . She is charged with murders, torture and kidnappings of the civilian population in the town, 65 kilometers from Tripoli. Militia troops are also said to have shot at residential areas during attacks on the capital and other places. In 2020, the man had been treated at the Bonn University Hospital . The Federal Prosecutor General and the Federal Criminal Police Office were informed by the International Criminal Court both about his stay in Germany and about the allegations against him.

Humanitarian Consequences

Both alliances are accused of serious human rights violations against political opponents and civilians. The human rights situation in the areas ruled by the terrorist organization "IS" was described as much worse.

In February 2015, there were 394,000 internally displaced people as a result of the armed conflict . 37,000 refugees from other countries who were in Libya needed assistance.

In 2017, captivity without a legal basis was the subject of an UNSMIL workshop . An official spokesman from Bani Walid put the number of those detained without a trial at 7,000 to 8,000 across the country. These are said to include around 900 women in Ruhaimi Prison in Ain Zara, most of them former members of the Revolutionary Guard . There are also prisoners of armed gangs in private prisons.

Activity of civil and human rights organizations

Various NGOs are working to contain the war, support its victims and introduce the rule of law. The OHCHR lists in 2020 on reports of 13 with Libya concerned human rights organizations and a national human rights association. The Libyan Women's Platform for Peace is committed to including Libyan women in efforts to achieve peace. The Libya Center for Freedom of Press works with imprisoned and kidnapped journalists. The Libya Platform has been involved in 2016 in cooperation with the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) for the strengthening of civil rights organizations, democratic elections, prosecution of war crimes and disempowerment of the militias.

On November 10, 2020, the human rights activist Hanan al-Barassi , who called herself "mother of Libya", was murdered in Benghazi. Hanan al-Barassi, 46 years old, a lawyer from Benghazi, campaigned for human rights in her homeland as an activist. Nor did she shrink from confronting the powerful in the state, the officers of the Libyan National Army, the ruler of Benghazi and the east of the country, Warlord Khalifa Haftar, and his followers.

literature

Emin Poljarevic: The Failure of the Libyan Political Transition and the Descent into Civil War (= fourth chapter). In Donatella della Porta, Teije Hidde Donker, Bogumila Hall, Emin Poljarevic, Daniel P. Ritter (eds.): Social Movements and Civil War: When Protests for Democratization Fail. Routledge, Oxon 2018, ISBN 978-1-138-22417-9 .
Libyan Political Agreement. signed on December 17, 2015 in Skhirat. ( Digitized version on the website of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (PDF; 533 kB; English))