Second Battle of Zawiya

Second Battle of Zawiya
Part of the 2011 Libyan rebel coastal offensive
Date 13–20 August 2011 Location Zawiya, Libya Result Anti-Gaddafi Victory Rebel forces capture the town and advance on Tripoli
Belligerents
Anti-Gaddafi forces National Liberation Army NATO per UNSC 1973	Gaddafi loyalists Libyan Army Paramilitary forces Foreign mercenaries
Commanders and leaders
Ismail al-Sallabi Osama Arusi	Mahdi al-Arabi (POW)
Strength
600 fighters	Munawaba Brigade 1,000 conscripts
Casualties and losses
41 killed, 1 tank destroyed	93 killed, 150 wounded, 15 captured 9 tanks, 1 armored vehicle, 5 technical, 1 Military boat destroyed (NATO claim)
24 civilians killed

Anti-Gaddafi Victory

Anti-Gaddafi forces

Gaddafi loyalists

93 killed, 150 wounded, 15 captured

The Second Battle of Zawiya was a battle in the Libyan Civil War between rebel anti-Gaddafi forces and forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi for control of the Tripolitanian city of Zawiya.

Zawiya rose against Gaddafi on 24 February, and formed an important strategic obstacle to loyalists. Strong loyalist efforts were made to recover the city, and after withstanding two to three weeks of assault by two mechanized brigades (the Khamis and Hosban), the city fell on 10 March. This victory allowed loyalist forces to reconquer other rebel-held cities on the western Tripolitanian coast, including Zuwara.

Rebel forces made an attempt to regain the city in mid-June, but this attempt was unsuccessful.

Holding Zawiya was a priority for the pro-Gaddafi forces, as the city lies on their coastal supply route and is a vital control city on the route from Tripoli to Tunisia. It also is home to an important oil refinery, the only one in loyalist hands prior to the battle.

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Wikipedia