Nafusa Mountains campaign

The Nafusa Mountains campaign was a series of battles in the Libyan Civil War, fought between loyalist pro-Gaddafi forces and rebel anti-Gaddafi forces in the Nafusa Mountains and, at a later period, in the surrounding plains of western Libya. The mountain range is of strategic importance due to its close proximity to the capital of Tripoli. Along with the city of Misrata, the Nafusa Mountains region was one of the major rebel strongholds in Tripolitania.

Nafusa Mountains campaign
Part of the Libyan Civil War
Date1 March – 18 August 2011
Location
Result

Indecisive

Territorial
changes
  • Pro-Gaddafi forces retake Gharyan, Kikla, Yafran and Rayayna from early March to late May, but lose all of their gains except Gharyan in June.
  • Rebel-held al Galaa cut off and surrounded by pro-Gaddafi forces until the recapture of Yafran
  • Rebels capture and hold the Wazzin border crossing, with some clashes spilling into Tunisia.
  • Rebels capture all towns around the mountains from June to August.
  • Rebels capture Gharyan on 18 August.
Belligerents

Anti-Gaddafi forces


 Tunisia


UNSC Resolution 1973 forces

Armed forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Commanders and leaders
Col. Mokhtar Milad Fernana
(overall commander)
Cdr. Mohammed Ali Madani 
(1st Zintan commander)
Cdr. Hajj Usama
(2nd Zintan commander)
Cdr. Ali al-Hajj (Yafran commander)
Col. Shu'ayb al-Firjani
(Zintan area)
Strength

100 from zintan 100 from Tripoli

200+ rest of Nafusa mountain Towns
2,000–4,000
40–50 tanks
40 technicals
(Nalut-Zintan)
8 MRLs
(in Zintan)
Casualties and losses
517–534 killed*
136 missing
397 killed**
215 – 295 captured**
several tanks destroyed**
10+ tanks or armoured vehicles captured
*The number of dead on the rebel side also includes civilians.
**Based largely on unconfirmed rebel claims
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