Sirte offensive (2016)

Battle of Sirte (2016)

Part of the Second Libyan Civil War and
the Military intervention against ISIL

Map of the GNA's advances in Sirte from 16 June to 6 December 2016

Date

12 May – 6 December 2016
(6 months, 3 weeks and 3 days)

Location

Sirte District, Libya

Result

Major GNA victory

The GNA captured Abu Qurayn, Bin Jawad, Nofaliya, Harawa, Ghardabiya Air Base and Sirte power station, completely besieging the city
The GNA takes control of the city in December 2016

Belligerents

Government of National Accord

Misrata Brigades
Misrata Military Council
Petroleum Facilities Guard
Libyan Navy

United States
(since 1 Aug. 2016)

Supported by:
United Kingdom

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Wilayat Tarabulus

Commanders and leaders

Fayez al-Sarraj
(Head of Unity Government)

Colonel Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi
(GNA Minister of Defense)

Rida Issa
(GNA navy commander)

Ibrahim Baitulmal
(Head of Misrata military council)

Ismail Shukri
(Head of military intelligence in Misrata)

Abdul Adeem al-Maadani †
(Misrata Brigades senior commander)

Mohammed Issa
(field commander)

Abu Hudhayfah al-Muhajir
(ISIL governor of Wilayat Tarabulus)

Abu Habib Jazrawi †
(ISIL leader in Libya)

Abu Omar al-Tunessi †
(ISIL commander of Sirte)

Hamid Malouqa al-Zliteni †
(ISIL top commander)

Hassan Kara †
(ISIL field commander)

Yusuf Mulaytan †
(ISIL commander)

Faiez Attiya †
(ISIL commander)

Qusai al-Jaili †
(ISIL commander)

Mirghani Badawi al-Bashir †
(ISIL commander and preacher)

Hassan al-Karami †
(ISIL preacher)

Strength

6,000 fighters
(in August 2016)

2,000–2,500 fighters

Casualties and losses

740 killed and 4,000+ wounded (GNA claim)
5,000 killed or wounded (ISIL claim)

1 killed
(non-combat)

2,500 killed and 87+ captured (GNA claim)

35,000 people displaced
(as of July 2016)