ConflictBarometer_2015

MIDDLE EAST AND MAGHREB
and the internationally recognized government were based
in the eastern cities of Tobruk and al-Bayda.
In western Libya, the camp supporting the internationally
recognized government, particularly the Zintan al-Qaqa and
al-Sawaiq brigades as well as the Noble Tribes Army (NTA)
from Wershefana region, clashed with the Misrata-led Libya
Dawn alliance in the course of the year. Forces loyal to the al-
Bayda-based government carried out air raids against Libya
Dawn, targeting, for instance, Mitiga International Airport
in Tripoli on five occasions in March, damaging the runway
on March 19. This forced the GNC delegation to postpone
their departure for their participation in the UN Dialogue
in Morocco. Two days later, another airstrike killed Libya
Dawn senior military commander Salah Burki in Tripoli. On
March 23, an aerial bombardment hit the town of Tarhouna,
Murqub district, allegedly killing eight civilians. The same
day, a warplane belonging to Libya Dawn was shot down
by pro-internationally recognized government forces, killing
one pilot in the area of the town of Zintan, al-Jabal al-Gharbi
district. Libya Dawn's less frequent airstrikes targeted the
town's airport several times. Furthermore, ground forces
engaged in fighting. For instance, in the first months of the
year, al-Qaqa and al-Sawaiq brigades, together with the NTA,
countered Libya Dawn's advance from al-Zawiya towards
the western al-Watiya air base, al-Nuqat al-Khams district.
Reportedly, tanks and Grad rocket launchers were employed
in the confrontations. The area separating the coastal towns
al-Zawiya and Tripoli from the Nafusa mountains, location of
the town of Zintan, was the scene of major confrontations.
For example, between March 18 and 19, in Bir al-Ghanam
area, al-Zawiya district, clashes between Libya Dawn and
Zintan brigades claimed the lives of nine Libya Dawn fighters,
as reported by the alliance. In addition, according to a
military source, 17 militiamen from the group loyal to the
internationally recognized government were killed. Around
15 were injured in total. On March 20, the al-Bayda-based
government announced an offensive to retake the capital.
The following day, heavy weapons were used in the fighting
around al-Aziziya, al-Jafara district. Fighting on April 3 in the
same area left ten pro-official government forces dead and
eight wounded as well as eight killed and four injured from
Libya Dawn alliance. In clashes on April 17, four Libya Dawn
and 14 pro-internationally recognized government fighters
as well as a number of civilians were killed according to a
military source from the al-Bayda-government camp. Heavy
weapons were used in ground combats fought in Tripoli suburbs,
particularly in Tajoura. Simultaneously, LNA conducted
airstrikes against Libya Dawn. After peace agreements between
pro-internationally recognized government forces and
some Libya Dawn-aligned groups, brigades from Misrata and
Tripoli formed the Steadfastness Front, rejecting non-GNC
authorized negotiations. The number of confrontations in
western Libya decreased considerably in the second half
of the year. However, on October 27, after GNC-alliance
blamed NTA for allegedly downing a helicopter near al-Maya,
al-Zawiya district, killing at least 18 people including three
Libya Dawn colonels, clashes between Libya Dawn and NTA
erupted.
In central Libya, in the district of Sirte, the Ibrahim Jadhran-led
Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), siding with the internationally
recognized government and supported by LNA, clashed
with Libya Dawn forces. The latter had launched ''Operation
Sunrise'' in December 2014 in order to seize PFG-controlled
oil ports such as Ras Lanuf and al-Sidr. On January 3, for
instance, five Libya Dawn fighters were killed and around 50
injured, whereas PFG reported the deaths of three and the
wounding of ten on its side. Warplanes loyal to al-Baydabased
government carried out airstrikes against Libya Dawn.
PFG, again backed by internationally recognized government
forces conducting airstrikes, stated six of its forces killed
and others wounded during confrontations on February 3,
while 24 Libya Dawn fighters reportedly died. On March 3,
the GNC-aligned forces carried out air raids targeting the oil
ports. In late March, Libya Dawn withdrew from its offensive.
In neighboring al-Wahat district, forces supporting the al-
Bayda-based government fought against the Ajdabiya Revolutionaries'
Shura Council (ARSC). On May 21, ARSC shelled
two LNA checkpoints between the district's capital Ajdabiya
and the town of Tobruk, wounding a number of soldiers.
LNA supported by PFG forces repelled the attack. Reportedly,
a US airstrike targeting al-Mourabitoun leader Mokhtar
Belmokhtar killed seven Ansar al-Sharia members outside
Ajdabiya on June 14. Subsequently, a group of militants,
including ARSC members, tried to enter the town in order
to treat their wounded. Five people were killed and 18
wounded on the side of armed locals, LNA, and PFG forces
which engaged in a firefight with the group to prevent their
access to the town. On August 1, LNA supported by other
armed forces attacked ARSC in the industrial area, leaving at
least eleven LNA troops injured. LNA warplanes bombarded
ARSC positions. Clashes lasting for several days erupted in
mid-December between armed locals, PFG, and LNA-aligned
al-Tawhid al-Salafiya Brigade, on the one hand, and ARSC, on
the other. LNA launched airstrikes on the industrial district
of the town. The confrontations left at least 14 people dead
and approx. 15 wounded. Some 75 families reportedly fled
the area.
In the nearby city of Benghazi, the Operation Dignity coalition
led by General Khalifa Haftar sought control of the
town fighting against the Benghazi Revolutionaries' Shura
Council (BRSC). Haftar, first self-declared head of his own
Libyan National Army, was officially depicted by HoR as LNA's
commander-in-chief in March. For instance, on January 3, six
pro-internationally recognized government soldiers were allegedly
killed by BRSC fighters, with LNA forces subsequently
shelling al-Sabri area with tanks and other heavy weapons. In
January, Muhammed al-Zahawi, founder of the BRSC group
Ansar al-Sharia in Benghazi, died, reportedly due to injuries
of fighting against al-Bayda-based government forces last
year. In total, clashes claimed the lives of at least 47 people
and left about 230 injured in January. On February 5, confrontations
left seven internationally recognized government
forces dead and at least 20 wounded. At least two BRSC fighters
were also killed. Two days later, BRSC reportedly killed
at least seven and wounded around 40 Operation Dignity
troops in further confrontations. Operation Dignity forces,
which had employed tanks, missiles, and combat-helicopters
in clashes, claimed the killing of some 30 BRSC members.
An LNA tank battalion supported by armed residents fought
BRSC on April 10, leaving ten Operation Dignity forces dead
and more than 40 injured. Clashes with BRSC fighters on
May 20 resulted in the death of at least nine soldiers and
at least 30 were wounded. As in most cases, the number of
fatalities among BRSC remained unknown. On June 19, five
LNA soldiers were killed in a mortar attack. Two days later,
five LNA soldiers died when they triggered a booby trap. On
June 22, a suicide car bomb reportedly claimed by Ansar
al-Sharia left four forces loyal to al-Bayda-based government
dead and 20 wounded in Nawagia, an area outside Benghazi
disputed by LNA and BRSC. On September 19, Haftar announced
''Operation Doom'' as final phase in military efforts
against Islamists in Benghazi. Coinciding with peace talks
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