Armed Forces of Libya

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LibyaLibya Armed Forces of Libya
القوات المسلحة الليبية
al-Quwwat al-Musallaha al-Libiyya
Libyan National Army.png
guide
Commander in Chief :
Military Commander: Chalifa Haftar (LNA in Tobruk)
Fayiz as-Sarradsch (GNA in Tripoli)
Headquarters: Tobruk , Tripoli
Military strength
Active soldiers:
Conscription:
Eligibility for military service: 19 years of age
history
Founding: 1951/2012
Factual foundation: unknown
Replacement: 2011

The Libyan National Army (LNA) and the military of the government of national agreement ( Government of National Accord - GNA) are two in the second Libyan civil war in opposition to each other standing forces in Libya ( Arabic القوات المسلحة الليبية, DMG al-Quwwāt al-Musallaḥa al-Lībīya ), which formed after the fall of Muammar al-Gaddafi . They are both originally recruited from the historic Libyan armed forces that existed until the civil war in 2011.

Currently, the partly internationally recognized Libyan transitional government, the Government of National Accord (GNA), based in Tripoli in western Libya, and the partly internationally recognized Council of Representatives , based in Tobruk in eastern Libya, have their own army, which makes it difficult for western observers in particular identify the respective armed forces.

The Libyan National Army (LNA) operated mainly in eastern Libya until 2019, while the GNA armed force controlled western Libya. They have been fighting each other since 2019.

history

Before 2011

In the 1980s, the Libyan armed forces fought the Libyan-Chadian border war against Chad .

In 2010 the armed forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya under revolutionary leader Muammar al-Gaddafi had around 119,000 men after the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies (JCSS). About 25,000 of them were conscripts. The Libyan army had 50,000 men, the air force 18,000 and the Libyan navy 8,000. There were also 40,000 people in the People's Militia in reserve . The paramilitary Libyan Revolutionary Guard included 3,000 soldiers who were directly subordinate to Revolutionary Leader Muammar al-Gaddafi .

Since 2011

During the civil war in Libya in early 2011, parts of the armed forces switched to the side of the opposition. Together with volunteers, they formed revolutionary brigades that fought together as the Libyan National Liberation Army . After the end of the civil war, the new defense minister, Usama al-Juwaili, worked to integrate the Liberation Army's militias into the regular Libyan armed forces, police and other institutions of the new government. This failed. Among other things, because al-Juwaili, like various politicians, was building his own private army at the same time as a warlord. His successors Mohammed Barghathi and Abdullah Al-Thinni were also unable to restore order. On the contrary, the situation finally escalated in summer 2014 with another outbreak of civil war .

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 . The two chiefs of the general staff, Abdel Razek Nadori (LNA) and Abdul Rahman al-Tawil (GNA) acted as heads of the two delegations . Initially agreed peace talks failed in 2019.

Armed forces in Libya since 2014

A number of armed groups operate in Libya, some of which are recruited from former members of the Libyan armed forces, but are also supported by other domestic and foreign sympathizers and mercenaries. The two largest armed forces in the country and facing each other are:

The Armed Forces under Khalifa Haftar (LNA)

See Libyan National Army

The main part of the armed forces followed General Chalifa Haftar and his “dignity” militias (for example most of the air force and the special forces). On March 2, 2015, Haftar was officially appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army by parliament .

The greatest success of Haftar and the LNA armed forces is the liberation of Benghazi from the hands of radical Islamist militias and the extensive stabilization of the East with the exception of Derna . The armed forces of the United Arab Emirates and the armed forces of Egypt are considered to be close allies . Both states supported the LNA with air strikes and arms deliveries. The Emirates also maintain a military base east of Benghazi.

The armed forces under Fayiz as-Sarradsch (GNA)

See Libyan Army

That part of the army that Haftar did not follow joined the Fajr Libya alliance under the Chief of Staff Jedalla al-Obeida in the summer and formed the “Libyan Army” and the government of National Accord (GNA) with the militias of the local government . At the end of 2015, these armed forces joined the new, internationally recognized government under al-Sarradsch and thus became the 2nd internationally recognized army in Libya. Parliament, Haftar and the LNA armed forces remained in opposition to this until the end of 2017.

In 2016 the "Presidential Guard" was formed, which operates in western Libya and has been based at Tripoli International Airport since May 2017 .

The greatest success of the GNA armed forces is the liberation of Sirte in August 2016, where the so-called Islamic State had established a terror regime from 2015. The local GNA associations call themselves “Al-Bunyan Al-Marsoos” (“Impenetrable Wall”). Since then, Sirte has also marked the armistice line between the two armed forces, which has been repeatedly violated.

The GNA troops are closely allied with the old colonial power Italy and the Italian armed forces , which maintain a base in Misrata . The Algerian armed forces are another close ally .

Historical armed forces

The Libyan armed forces were dressed and equipped as follows until 2011:

army

The 50,000-strong army was organized into 10 tank battalions , 10 motorized infantry battalions , 18 infantry battalions , 6 command battalions , 22 artillery battalions and 7 anti-aircraft battalions.

equipment

The estimated number of tanks in 2009 was 3,025. A large number of the approximately 2,000 battle tanks were not considered operational and were used to obtain spare parts for other units.

  • 200 T-72 ; (115 stored);
  • 100 T-62 (70 in storage);
  • 1500 T-55 ; (1,040 T-54 / T-55 stored).

There were armored reconnaissance vehicles of the types BRDM-2 (approx. 50) and EE-9 (approx. 70). Furthermore about 1000 BMP-1 and other BMD for the infantry. In 2010 it was announced that Russia would assist Libya in modernizing T-72 tanks.

Wheeled vehicles
artillery
Surface-to-surface missiles
  • Soviet UnionSoviet Union FROG-7
  • Soviet UnionSoviet Union R-17 , (416 missiles)
Anti-tank
Air defense
Anti-aircraft weapons
Light weapons

Air Force

Mil Mi-35 (Mi-24) attack helicopters in October 2009

After the coup in 1969 , Libya, which until then had only had a small air force of around 400 men, immediately began procuring aircraft for the LARAF (Libyan Arab Republic Air Force). A major order was placed in France that same year, but orders were also placed in the USA and Italy. In particular, the Mirage-5 fighters from France were loaned out to Egypt and participated in combat operations in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. From 1973/74 there was a reorientation towards Soviet weapons technology. Most of the pilot training took place abroad, such as France, Algeria, Pakistan, Romania, Great Britain and the Soviet Union.

The air force had around 18,000 personnel. Nevertheless, there was a shortage of pilots, which is why the country was forced to recruit mercenaries from Serbia, Pakistan and Arab states. In addition, many of the aircraft are said to have not been operational. According to the British military, the Libyan air force has been largely destroyed during military operations since March 2011.

There are 13 military air force bases in the country . In the Okba Ben Nafi Air Base near Tripoli Soviet fighters of the guys were MiG-25 and bombers Tu-22 stationed.

Starting in 2015, several parties to the conflict tried to get aircraft back into service. Eight Sukhoi Su-24 bombers would therefore have been operational in Benghazi for Chalifa Haftar , together with other MiG-21 , MiG-23 and Aero L-39 aircraft . At best, these aircraft would be used to combat the New General National Congress , which was apparently trying to make MiG-25 operational in Misrata . Furthermore, the Air Force in Tobruk has several Mil Mi-24 and Mil Mi-8 helicopters in operation. Most of the planes and helicopters are stationed at Tobruk Airport.

Aircraft used

Aircraft type origin use number notes
Dassault Mirage F1 BD / ED FranceFrance Multipurpose fighter 30th Two machines were used to flee to Malta in February 2011.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Soviet UnionSoviet Union Training aircraft / interceptor 24 Most of the remaining MiG-21 bis and MiG-21UM were mothballed. In 2004 a modernization contract for 16 pieces is said to have been concluded with the Ukraine.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 BN / MS / ML / UB Soviet UnionSoviet Union Ground attack aircraft / interceptor / training aircraft 124 Most of them were mothballed. One machine was shot down over Benghazi on March 19, 2011.
Sukhoi Su-22 M3 / UM-3K Soviet UnionSoviet Union Ground attack aircraft 40
Sukhoi Su-24 MK Soviet UnionSoviet Union Long range bombers 4th A unit was lost in a fire.
Soko J-21 Jastreb Yugoslavia Socialist Federal RepublicYugoslavia light ground attack aircraft 13
Aero L-39 ZO Albatros Czech RepublicCzech Republic light attack and training aircraft 110
Aermacchi SF-260 WL ItalyItaly Training aircraft 20 of 240 aircraft that were once ordered. Italian pilots, at least some of them ex-military pilots, also spent years in Libya for training.
Soko G-2 Galeb Yugoslavia Socialist Federal RepublicYugoslavia light attack and training aircraft 116 A training machine was shot down on March 24, 2011 over Misurata.
Yakovlev Yak-130 RussiaRussia Training jet 6th appointed (2010)
Dassault Falcon 20th FranceFrance Light transport aircraft 3
Antonov An-26 Soviet UnionSoviet Union Medium transport aircraft 10
Gulfstream II United StatesUnited States Light transport aircraft 1
Dassault Falcon 50 FranceFrance Light transport aircraft 1
Ilyushin Il-76 Soviet UnionSoviet Union Heavy transport aircraft 17th
Let L-410 Turbolet Czech RepublicCzech Republic Light multipurpose transport aircraft 15th
Lockheed C-130H Hercules United StatesUnited States Heavy transport aircraft 10
Antonov An-124 Soviet UnionSoviet Union Heavy transport aircraft 2
Ilyushin Il-76 Soviet UnionSoviet Union Air refueling aircraft 4th
Mil Mi-24 Hind RussiaRussia Heavy attack helicopter 43
Mil Wed-14 RussiaRussia Medium multipurpose helicopter 12
Bell 206 JetRanger United StatesUnited States Training helicopter 4th
Bell 212 Twin Huey United StatesUnited States Light transport helicopter 2 Delivery via Italy
Boeing CH-47 Chinook United StatesUnited States Heavy transport helicopter 8th Delivery via Italy
Mil Mi-8 Hip RussiaRussia Medium transport helicopter 25th
Mil Wed-17 RussiaRussia Medium transport helicopter ? Condition unknown

marine

The Navy, including the Coast Guard, had around 8,000 soldiers and 19 ships. According to the alliance, eight warships of the Libyan Navy were hit in air strikes by NATO during the international military operation in Libya in 2011 on May 20 . Six hits were confirmed by the Libyan side. The attacks in the ports of Tripoli, al-Chums and Sirte are said to have taken place as a result of the ships being used as mine layers .

units

The Libyan frigate Al Ghardabia (213) in Valletta in 2005
  • Frigates
  • Missile corvettes
  • Submarines
  • Speed ​​boats
  • Fast patrol boats
    • CroatiaCroatia PV30-LS (Vittoria class)
      • Sidi Bilal
      • Al-Mergeb
      • Jelyana
      • Al-Sadada
      • Merseet
      • Tagreft
  • Minesweeper
  • Landing craft
    • ItalyItaly PS-700
      • Ibn Harissa
      • Ibn Ouf
    • TurkeyTurkey C-107
      • Ibn Al Idrissi
      • Ibn Marwan
      • El Kobayat
  • Auxiliary vehicles
    • Support and workshop ships
      • Tentin
      • Al Munjed ( ex Zlatica )CroatiaCroatia
    • freighter
      • Garyounis (2410 GRT)
      • El Timsah (3100 GRT)
    • Tugs and recovery vehicles
      • A 33 (150 GRT)
      • A 34 (150 GRT)
      • A 35 (150 GRT)
      • Ras El-Helal (200 GRT)
      • Al Ahweirif (200 GRT)
      • Al Keriat (200 GRT)
      • Al Tabkah (200 GRT)
    • tender
      • 723 (90 ts)
      • Al Manoud

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Presidential Guard secures the Libya Herald coastal road , November 15, 2017 (English).
  2. ↑ Fighting in Libya's capital Tripoli: Last airport closed . In: Spiegel Online . April 8, 2019 ( spiegel.de [accessed April 8, 2019]).
  3. ↑ Christoph Sydow: Advance of Warlord Haftar: In Tripoli, Europe's Libya policy fails . In: Spiegel Online . April 8, 2019 ( spiegel.de [accessed April 8, 2019]).
  4. ↑ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , March 26, 2011, p. 4.
  5. ↑ fpc.state.gov (PDF; 494 kB), p. 27.
  6. ↑ Libya to include rebels in military from January , Reuters on December 26, 2011 (English).
  7. ↑ Libya Herald on August 6, 2013 (English).
  8. ↑ Can Cairo talks succeed in uniting Libya's divided armed forces? (English).
  9. ↑ Libyan army factions to meet in Cairo Sunday (English).
  10. ↑ Christoph Sydow: Advance of Warlord Haftar: In Tripoli, Europe's Libya policy fails . In: Spiegel Online . April 8, 2019 ( spiegel.de [accessed April 8, 2019]).
  11. ↑ Benevolent dictator or sleeping monarch?
  12. ↑ Internationally recognized parliament appoints army chief , Neue Zürcher Zeitung , March 2, 2015.
  13. ↑ Covert Emirati support gave East Libyan air power key boost: UN report (English).
  14. ↑ UAE on brink of deploying fighter aircraft to Libya battlefield (English).
  15. ↑ The new terror nest Libya alarms Europe .
  16. ↑ Presidential Guard moves into Tripoli International Airport , Libya Herald, May 28, 2017 (English).
  17. ^ Libya army delegation in Rome for talks with Italian military (English).
  18. ↑ Eastern authority condemns Italy decision to increase troops in Libya (English).
  19. ↑ Algeria to train Presidential Guard personnel (English).
  20. ↑ a b c See Focus Online: Libyan Army: Obsolete weapons and many defectors , accessed on April 15, 2011.
  21. ↑ www.bbc.co.uk (English).
  22. ↑ IISS 2009.
  23. ↑ en.rian.ru ( Memento of April 25, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (English).
  24. ↑ a b Middle East Military Balance, (2005), "Libyan Military" ( Memento from March 14, 2007 in the Internet Archive ), Libya , accessed April 24, 2007 (PDF; English).
  25. ↑ Tom Cooper / Chuck Canyon / AlbertGrandolini: Libya's Air Force - from King Idris to Colonel Gaddafi in Flieger Revue Extra No. 29, Möller 2010, ISSN  0941-889X , p. 9.
  26. ↑ See Süddeutsche: Libyan Armed Forces: Pilots from all over the world , viewed on April 15, 2011.
  27. ↑ See Deutschlandradio: British Army: Libyan Air Force is destroyed , viewed on April 15, 2011.
  28. ↑ Libya's Hafter procures fighter-jets to counter Qatar's Libyan Dawn ( Memento from April 2, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
  29. ↑ Libyan MiG-25 destroyed in crash , defenseweb.co.za, May 8, 2015 (English).
  30. ↑ Further Egyptian MiG-21 deliveries to the Libyan Air Force , March 2015 (English).
  31. ↑ Holger Müller: MiG-21 in action - Part 2: Middle East and Africa in Flieger Revue Extra No. 23, Möller 2008, ISSN  0941-889X , p. 25.
  32. ↑ Photo gallery - Image 13 - Crisis in Libya: New battles for Benghazi. In: Spiegel Online photo gallery. March 19, 2011, accessed June 9, 2018 .
  33. ↑ www.nachrichten.at .
  34. ↑ Nemico, ti Insegno a uccidere. L'Europeo 29/21 Luglio 1990 on stragi80.it ( Memento from September 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
  35. ^ NATO targets Libyan Navy in Tripoli, Al Khums and Sirte. In: NATO . Retrieved May 20, 2011 .
  36. ^ NATO sinks several Libyan warships. In: Tages-Anzeiger . Retrieved May 20, 2011 .
  37. ↑ a b c d e f g Werner Globke (Hrsg.): Weyers Flottentaschenbuch / Warships of the World - Fleet Handbook , Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Bonn, 66th year 2005-2007, ISBN 3-7637-4517-3 .
  38. ↑ PV30-LS - Low Signature Patrol Vessel - Adria-Mar (English).
  39. ↑ Harpoon Head Quarters  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.harpoondatabases.com  

Web links

Commons : Armed Forces of Libya  - Collection of images, videos and audio files