The Libyan Civil War, also referred to as the Libyan Revolution or the 17 February Revolution, was an armed conflict fought between forces loyal to Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, and those seeking to oust him. After 41 years of authoritarian rule, Gaddafi was overthrown on October 20, 2011. Immediately afterwards, the National Transitional Council (NTC) “declared the liberation of Libya” and the official end of the war. In July 2012, Libya’s transitional government handed over authority to the newly elected General National Congress (GNC); the GNC faced numerous challenges including the September 2012 attack by Islamist militants on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and the spread of the Islamic State and other armed groups throughout the country.
Two authorities initially claimed to govern Libya: the Council of Deputies in Tobruk and the General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli. After UN-led peace talks between the Tobruk and Tripoli governments, a unified interim UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) was established in 2015, and the GNC disbanded to support it.
There is a significant portion of Libya that is under neither government’s control, and instead has been seized by militant Islamists, terror groups and tribal militias. Many Libyan citizens have been forced to flee to neighboring countries or to make the dangerous trip across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
In September 2018, the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) declared a state of emergency in Tripoli. The Libyan National Army (LNA), which is not backed by the UN or recognized as the legitimate seat of government by the international community, launched Operation Flood of Dignity in April 2018, which is ongoing and has killed an estimated 500 people so far. Attempts to establish a unified government have been largely unsuccessful as the House of Representatives (backed by the LNA) and the GNA continue to struggle for power.
Primary Terrorist Presence in Libya –
Other Groups Engaged in the Conflict:
Human Rights, Humanitarian and Refugee Crises:
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