| Battle of al-Watiya Airbase (2019-2020) | |||||||||
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| Part of Western Libya campaign and Libyan civil war (2014-2020) | |||||||||
| File:Gnacapturebase.png Fighters loyal to Libya's internationally recognized government are seen after taking control of Watiya airbase, southwest of Tripoli | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
  Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar(LNA supreme commander) Maj. Gen. Abdulrazek al-Nadoori |
 Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj(head of Presidential Council) Maj. Gen. Osama al-Juwaili | ||||||||
The Battle of al-Watiya Airbase (2019-2020) was a major battle of the Second Libyan Civil War that raged from April 2019 to May 2020, between the Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army, as the GNA sought to reclaim the airbase that the LNA had captured in April 2014.[4] The battle unfolded against the backdrop of a complex and protracted conflict, with international actors influencing the dynamics of the region.
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Background[]
In April 2019, General Haftar's forces launched an offensive to seize the capital, Tripoli, from the UN-backed Government of National Accord. During this offensive, Air Force planes loyal to the GNA attacked LNA positions, escalating tensions between the opposing factions.[5]
Airstrikes and escalations[]
On April 8, 2019, a series of airstrikes occurred involving both pro-LNA and pro-GNA air forces. Pro-GNA fighter jets targeted the Al-Watiya air force base, prompting a swift response from pro-LNA MiG-21 fighter jets that successfully bombed the pro-GNA Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli. The exchange of airstrikes demonstrated the intensity of the conflict.[6]
A Mirage F1 incident on April 24, 2019, near Al-Watiya airbase added further complexity. Initially claimed by pro-LNA sources as a pro-GNA Mirage F-1AD shot down, later analysis suggested it was a Mirage F1-AD with an unclear ownership history, possibly shot down by its own side.[7][8] The incident highlighted the challenges of verifying information in the midst of the conflict.
Siege and counter attacks[]
In June 2019, pro-GNA forces claimed to have bombed pro-LNA Al-Watiya air force base, though these claims remained unconfirmed. The conflict continued in April 2020 when GNA forces besieged Al-Watiya airbase, prompting a counter-attack by LNA forces that captured the town of Al-Aqrabiya.[9]
GNA offensive and recapture[]
On May 5, 2020, the GNA launched a new offensive to capture Al-Watiya airbase, claiming to have successfully encircled the base. The sustained assault culminated in the capture of the airbase on May 18, 2020, marking a significant advancement for forces aligned with Libya's internationally recognized government.[10]
Following the capture, the GNA forces secured a Pantsir-S1 TLAR at the base, transporting it for examination.[11] On July 4, 2020, unidentified "foreign" warplanes targeted Al-Watiya airbase, with conflicting reports on the extent of damage, but Turkey blaming Russia.[12] The base's subsequent expansion, improvements to the runway, and ongoing air operations underscored its continued strategic importance.[13]
References[]
- ↑ Ataman, Muhittin (2020-07-08). "The meaning of the al-Watiya air base attack | Column" (in en-US). https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/columns/the-meaning-of-the-al-watiya-air-base-attack.
- ↑ "ANALYSIS - Al-Watiya defeat derailed UAE's Libya plans". https://www.aa.com.tr/en/analysis/analysis-al-watiya-defeat-derailed-uae-s-libya-plans/1849144.
- ↑ Ataman, Muhittin (2020-07-08). "The meaning of the al-Watiya air base attack | Column" (in en-US). https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/columns/the-meaning-of-the-al-watiya-air-base-attack.
- ↑ "Libya: GNA launch offensive to capture al-Watiya airbase" (in en). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/5/5/libya-gna-launch-offensive-to-capture-al-watiya-airbase.
- ↑ "Timeline: Haftar's months-long offensive to seize Tripoli" (in en). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/19/timeline-haftars-months-long-offensive-to-seize-tripoli.
- ↑ "UN-backed Libya gov't jets strike Haftar's airbase". https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/un-backed-libya-govt-jets-strike-haftar-s-airbase/1444950.
- ↑ "https://twitter.com/Arn_Del/status/1121178362335068160" (in en). https://twitter.com/Arn_Del/status/1121178362335068160.
- ↑ "LIBYA WAR 2020 | Libyan National Army(LNA) VS Government of National Accord(GNA)". April 25, 2019. https://carigold.com/forum/threads/libya-war-2020-libyan-national-army-lna-vs-government-of-national-accord-gna.693949/page-42. "The Mirage F1 crashed near al-Watiya airbase belonged to #LNA not #GNA. This aircraft is the Mirage F1AD serial '402'."
- ↑ "Error: no
|title=specified when using {{Cite web}}". https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-17/besieged-airbase-shows-turkey-turning-the-tide-in-libya-s-war. - ↑ "Libya's GNA recaptures strategic al-Watiya airbase" (in en). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/5/18/libyas-gna-recaptures-strategic-al-watiya-airbase.
- ↑ Sutton, H. I.. "One Of Russia's Most Advanced Missile Systems Captured In Libya" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/hisutton/2020/05/19/feared-russian-missile-system-targeted-and-captured-in-libya/.
- ↑ https://libyaobserver.ly/news/turkish-source-russia-behind-airstrikes-al-watiya-base-western-libya
- ↑ "Turkey vows 'retribution' for attack on its positions in Libya's al-Watiya" (in en). https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-libya-watiya-attack-vows-retribution.
The original article can be found at Battle of al-Watiya Airbase and the edit history here.