Battle of Sabha (2019) explained

Conflict:Battle of Sabha
Place:Sabha, Libya
Partof:the Southern Libya offensive and Second Libyan Civil War
Date:15 January – 4 February 2019
Result: LNA victory
Combatant1: House of Representatives
Combatant2: Government of National Accord
Toubou militias
Commander1:Khalifa Haftar
Commander2:Fayez al-Sarraj
Combatant3:
AQIM
Commander3:Al-Mahdi Rajab Dungo

The Battle of Sabha was a military confrontation in Sabha from 15 January to 4 February 2019 between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Government of National Accord (GNA) during the Southern Libya offensive of the Second Libyan Civil War.

Battle

The LNA started taking positions near Sabha on 15 January.[1] On 18 January, the LNA raided AQIM and ISIS militants northwest of Sabha, claiming to have killed three of their notable members. Clashes continued between the LNA and militias within the city of Sabha, although the airport stayed under the control of the GNA.[2] On 1 February, Toubou tribesmen ambushed and killed four members of the 128th brigade of the LNA. A day after the LNA announced control of the town, heavy fighting broke out between Toubou fighters and the LNA in the town of Ghadduwah, south of Sabha.[3] LNA forces secured Sabha airport and other strategic sites after local groups agreed to hand them over.[4] The commander of the sixth infantry unit of the GNA, Hamid al-Atabi, accused the Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj of not providing adequate support to his forces, which resulted in the GNA retreat from Sabha on 4 February.[5] Control of Sabha is seen as vital for controlling southern Libya's oilfields, allowing the LNA to secure oil facilities including El Sharara oil field, the biggest in Libya.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New batch of Dignity Operation militias arrive in Sabha The Libya Observer . 2023-04-15 . libyaobserver.ly.
  2. Web site: Zaptia . Sami . 2019-01-20 . Terror suspects killed in large LNA operation in south Libya . 2023-04-15 . LibyaHerald . en-US.
  3. Web site: Dignity Operation armed groups ambushed in southern Libya The Libya Observer . 2023-04-15 . libyaobserver.ly.
  4. Web site: 2019-01-28 . Eastern Libya government delegation visits key southern city of Sabha . 2023-04-15 . Arab News . en.
  5. Web site: Haftar's forces storm houses of opponents in Libya's Sabha The Libya Observer . 2023-04-15 . libyaobserver.ly.