2011 Sabha clashes
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = 2011 Sabha clashes
| partof = the First Libyan Civil War
| image = Libyan_Uprising.svg
| image_size =
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| date = 8–13 June 2011
({{Age in months, weeks and days|month1=06|day1=08|year1=2011|month2=06|day2=13|year2=2011}})
| coordinates =
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| territory = Libyan government forces retain control of the town{{cite web |title=Sudanese army seizes southern Libyan town |website=The Daily Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503182645/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8611199/Sudanese-army-seizes-southern-Libyan-town.html |archive-date=3 May 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8611199/Sudanese-army-seizes-southern-Libyan-town.html}}
| result = Libyan government victory
| status =
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Libya|1951}} Libyan Opposition
- Fighters from the Awlad Suleiman tribe
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Libya|1977}} Libyan Government
| commander1 = Unknown
| commander2 = Unknown
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| casualties2 = Unknown
| notes =
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Libyan civil war}}
}}
The 2011 Sabha clashes were a series of clashes between forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and rebel anti-Gaddafi forces for control of the desert oasis city of Sabha
The clashes were part of the Libyan Civil War and took place during June 2011.
Background
Sabha is a city of around 210,000 people located by an oasis in the Libyan Desert and is home to an important military base. Much of its population are migrants from Chad, Niger, and Sudan.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9NQG8B00.htm |title=Libyan forces fight rebels on several fronts |author=Hadeel al-Shalchi, Maggie Michael |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=12 June 2011 |access-date=13 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102100757/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9NQG8B00.htm |archive-date=2 November 2012}} These migrants had been brought to Libya by Gaddafi in the 1980s and given employment and stipends by the regime to ensure their support. In addition, the city is home to a large number of members of the Qadhadhfa tribe, to which Gaddafi belongs.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13753786|title=Libya: Illusion of momentum as Nato campaign drags on|author=Shashank Joshi|publisher=BBC|date=13 June 2011|access-date=19 June 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110617202308/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13753786| archive-date= 17 June 2011 | url-status= live}} As a result, the city was regarded as a stronghold of pro-Gaddafi sentiment as the anti-regime protests that began across Libya in February 2011 turned into civil war. As the conflict progressed, however, many of the migrants went north to fight against the rebels, draining Gaddafi's major base of support in the city. Those who remained behind were mostly armed young locals and members of the Awlad Suleiman tribe. The Awlad Suleiman bear strong resentment against the regime. Shortly after Gaddafi seized power, members of the tribe were accused of plotting to overthrow him. Many tribesmen were executed and imprisoned as a result.
June clashes
After remaining relatively quiet for much of the conflict, anti-government protests broke out in the city in early June. On 8 June, government troops fired into the air to disperse a crowd of protesters, igniting a violent clash between the groups. Anti-Gaddafi Awlad Suleiman tribesmen "liberated several streets" in the city by 11 June, according to the rebel National Transitional Council. Rebels set up checkpoints in the main residential district of Souk al-Namla. Reports indicated that these rebels were armed, partially by weapons from rebels in the north. By 12 June, the city's residents stated that they feared pro-Gaddafi forces and mercenaries from the north were readying to return to Sabha to subdue the opposition elements.
July pro-Gaddafi rally
On 8 July, Gaddafi spoke to a crowd of 50,000 people at a pro-Gaddafi rally.[http://www.africanews.it/english/libya-anti-nato-rally-in-sabha Libya: anti-Nato rally in Sabha] During his speech, he threatened to attack Europe.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/08/gaddafi-threat-to-attack-europe Gaddafi threatens attacks in Europe]
= August/September =
{{Main|Fezzan campaign#Sabha|Battle of Sabha}}
On 23 August, more clashes broke out in Sabha. Col Bani called Sabha "the last stronghold for (Gaddafi)."{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14610722|title=Battle for Tripoli|access-date=24 August 2011 | work=BBC News|date=26 August 2011}} Sabha came under anti-Gaddafi control in late September.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Libyan civil war}}
Category:Battles of the Libyan civil war (2011)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sabha_clashes, 2011}}