Battle of Ra's Lanuf

Part of Libyan Civil War

Date	4–5 March 2011 (First phase) 6–12 March 2011 (Second phase)
Location	Ra's Lanuf, Libya
Result	Temporary anti-Gaddafi victory after the First phase; Ultimately Pro-Gaddafi victory after the Second phase

Belligerents

Anti-Gaddafi forces

National Liberation Army

Armed forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Commanders and leaders

Abdul Fatah Younis

Unknown

Strength

Saaiqa 36 Battalion
500-1,000 volunteers

3,000 (First phase)
four battalions (Second phase)

Casualties and losses

16-26 rebels killed (First phase)
20 rebels killed (Second phase/bombardment)
15 killed, 65 missing (Second phase/ground fighting)
20 mutinous loyalists executed
Total dead & missing:
136-146 killed or missing
Total captured: 1,500 (Government claim)

2-25 soldiers killed, 2 pilots killed, 1 Su-24MK shot down (First phase)
Unknown (Second phase)

Anti-Gaddafi forces

The Battle of Ra's Lanuf was a two-phase battle in 2011 during the Libyan Civil War between forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and those loyal to the National Transitional Council. Both forces sought control of the town of Ra's Lanuf. The first phase followed two days after the First Battle of Brega which occurred in the town Brega, roughly 130 kilometres (81 mi) to the east of Ra's Lanuf. After conquering the town on 4 March, the rebels pushed further west to attack Sirte but they were driven back by government forces and on 11 March, government troops reconquered most of Ra's Lanuf.

According to the rebels, the loyalist forces used heavy weapons and helicopters to attack them one kilometre from the airport. One rebel reported seeing four men in front of him killed by an explosion. Rebels reported that there were defections from the local pro-Gaddafi military base in Ra's Lanuf.

Sometime during the night, rebel forces managed to capture the entire town of Ra's Lanuf, including the airport and military base. Following the capture of the base, the rebels claimed to have found the bodies of 20 soldiers who were executed after they refused to open fire on rebel forces.

In addition to the 20 mutinous soldiers who were reportedly executed, according to the rebels, various numbers of dead had been reported. 16 dead were reported on the rebel side with 31 wounded, and two to 25 loyalists ground troops were reportedly killed in addition to two loyalist pilots.

One Libyan Air Force jet bomber was reported to had been shot down outside Ra's Lanuf on 5 March, by anti-Gaddafi rebels.

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Wikipedia