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The conflict in Libya was triggered by civil uprisings that took place across the Middle East and North Africa in late 2010 and 2011. In Libya, the first protests took place in February in Benghazi, Libya’s second city and occasional home of dissent against the Gadhafi regime. The following government crackdown triggered wider dissent and violence across the country. By late February, the National Transitional Council (NTC) in Benghazi had formed, claiming to represent all rebel groups. Eastern towns fell in quick succession to the rebels, with Zawiyah and Misrata in the west heavily contested. When Col. Gadhafi’s forces appeared to be succeeding in violent repression of the rebels, a UN Security Council Resolution authorised ‘all necessary means’ to protect civilians and established a no-fly zone. Enforcement began in March with unilateral French air strikes destroying a regime column about to storm Benghazi, quickly followed by attacks on Libyan air defences. Command passed from the US to NATO as US forces were withdrawn from direct combat. Over 8,000 NATO strike sorties eroded Gadhafi’s military capability. Tripoli fell to a well-synchronised operation that combined precision strikes by NATO, advances and an amphibious landing by rebel units, activation of “sleeper cells”, public calls for an uprising by anti-government imams and external disruption of Libyan state broadcasting. It was followed by political and military efforts by the rebels and NTC to stabilise Tripoli, prevent a bloodbath of retribution and kick-start essential services. The NTC now faces the hard task of rebuilding and reuniting Libya’s disparate regions and groupings.
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