Second Battle of Benghazi

Overview

The Second Battle of Benghazi was fought between army units and militiamen loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and anti-Gaddafi forces in Benghazi on 19-20 March 2011 during the Libyan Civil War. The battle marked the start of a United Nations-mandated military intervention in the conflict, with fighter jets from the French Air Force attacking and destroying several pro-Gaddafi units, forcing them to retreat.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Second Battle of Benghazi marked the opening of the United Nations-mandated international military intervention in the Libyan Civil War. When Gaddafi loyalist army units and militiamen advanced on Benghazi on 19–20 March 2011, French Air Force fighter jets intervened directly, attacking and destroying several pro-Gaddafi formations and compelling them to retreat. The engagement established that the international coalition would use air power to enforce the UN mandate, shifting the military balance away from Gaddafi's conventional forces and preserving the anti-Gaddafi stronghold in Benghazi. The battle thus represented the transition of the conflict from a domestic civil war to one actively shaped by external military intervention.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)