First Battle of Ajdabiya

Battle of Ajdabiya
Part of the Libyan Civil War
Date 15–17 March 2011 (First phase) 21–26 March 2011 (Second phase) Location Ajdabiya, Libya Coordinates: 30°45′20″N 20°13′31″E / 30.75556°N 20.22528°E / 30.75556; 20.22528 Result Pro-Gaddafi victory in the first phase Anti-Gaddafi victory in the second phase
Belligerents
Anti-Gaddafi forces National Liberation Army Free Libyan Air Force UNSC Resolution 1973 forces NATO command France UK US	Gaddafi Loyalists Libyan Army Libyan Air Force Paramilitary forces
Strength
Saaiqa 36 Battalion Several hundred volunteers 2 fighter jets 3 helicopters	Four battalions (including some elements of the Khamis Brigade) Air support (until 18 March)
Casualties and losses
136 killed, 175 missing, 250 wounded,* at least 1 tank destroyed	20 killed, 20 captured, 3 tanks destroyed, 4–7 tanks captured, 2 armed oil tankers sunk and 1 damaged (First phase, unconfirmed rebel claims) 1 armed oil tanker damaged (First phase, independently confirmed) 21 killed, 6 captured, 24+ tanks, armored vehicles and mobile rocket launchers destroyed or captured (Second phase)
25–30 civilians killed
*Numbers of killed, missing or wounded on the rebel side include civilians

Anti-Gaddafi forces

UNSC Resolution 1973 forces

Gaddafi Loyalists

The Battle of Ajdabiya was an armed battle in and near the city of Ajdabiya that took place as part of the Libyan Civil War. It was fought between anti-government rebels and military forces loyal to the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Following the Second Battle of Brega, in which pro-Gaddafi forces captured the town, Ajdabiya was the only major rebel-held city left en route to the rebel capital of Benghazi. The battle for Ajdabiya had been cited as a potential turning point in the conflict on which the fate of the whole rebellion against the Gaddafi government may be decided. On 26 March 2011, Libyan rebels, backed by extensive allied air raids, seized control of the frontline oil town of Ajdabiya from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's forces. During the first phase of the battle, pro-Gaddafi forces seized the strategic road junction leading to Benghazi and Tobruk, and captured most of the city. The city centre remained in rebel hands, but was surrounded by pro-government forces and cut off from outside assistance. After the second phase, anti-Gaddafi forces recaptured the road junction and cleared loyalist forces from the city, sending them retreating down the Libyan Coastal Highway towards Sirte.

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