Libyan Special Forces

The Libyan Special Forces (LSF) (Arabic: القوات الخاصة الليبية), also known as the Al-Saiqa or Saiqa Special Forces[2][3][4] and simply Saiqa[5] or Al-Saiqa[6][7] (Arabic: الصاعقة; English: lightning, thunderbolt), are an elite Libyan National Army unit formed from a mixture of paratroopers, paramilitary forces and commandos. (They should not be confused with the similarly named Lightning Bolt Brigade (Sawaiq Brigade) which is part of the Zintan Brigades.) Prominent LSF commander Mahmoud al-Werfalli was indicted in 2017 and 2018 by the International Criminal Court for the war crime of murdering and ordering the murders of non-combatants,[8][9] remaining at large as of 6 April 2019.[10]

For other uses, see Saiqa.
Libyan Special Forces
FounderAbdel Fatah Younis
CommandersWanis Bukhamada (until 2020)
Abdul Salam Al-Hassi (since 2020)
Dates of operation1970 – present
HeadquartersBenghazi
Active regionsBenghazi
SizeUp to 5,000 soldiers[1]
Allies Libyan National Army
OpponentsShura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries
Ansar al-Sharia
 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Battles and warsLibyan Civil War (2011)
2013 Benghazi conflict
Libyan Civil War (2014–present)

Origins

The pro-government force emerged from a militia in 2010, during the Muammar Qaddafi government. In the 1990s, the Libyan Special Forces helped to suppress the rebellion of Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.

Composition and hierarchy

As of March 2014, they numbered about 5000 soldiers and reported to the Ministry of Defence.[11]

In 2013, the Libyan Special Forces commander was Colonel Wanes Abu Khamadah. From 2011 to at least 2017, Mahmoud al-Werfalli was a member of the unit. Since December 2015, he held positions of command responsibility. As of August 2017, his title was Axes Commander and he held responsibility for at least one detention centre.[8] In 2017 and 2018 he was indicted for the war crime of murdering and ordering the murders of non-combatants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) under Article 8(2)(c)(i) of the Rome Statute.[8][9] As of 6 April 2019, the ICC warrants for his arrest remained outstanding.[10]

The commander of the Libyan Special Forces is Major General Abdul Salam Al-Hassi. He was appointed to the position by Khalifa Haftar following the passing of his predecessor Major General Wanis Bukhamada in November 2020.[12][13]

Benghazi Clashes

Libyan Special Forces came to prominence after its deployment in Benghazi in summer 2013, in an attempt to control the growing disorder. As a result, it came under repeated attacks and several of its officers killed. The force is reportedly popular in Benghazi,[11][14] particularly in light of its stance against the Islamist Ansar al-Sharia group and because it is seen as a symbol of the reborn Libyan armed forces.

The Libyan Special Forces Brigade reportedly has had frictions with the Libya Shield Force, a government-sanctioned powerful militia;[14] despite these frictions, between November and December 2013 the LSF Brigade fought the Ansar al-Sharia militia,[15] suffering some losses.[16]

At the end of July 2014 the Brigade was pushed out of its main base in Benghazi's Buatni district by Islamist fighters from the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries. A senior Libyan Special Forces official later claimed to the Libya Herald that LSF losses in Benghazi between the 21 and 30 July totaled some 63 dead and 200 wounded. Whilst the official was unsure of the number of Islamist dead, he claimed that it was in the dozens.[17]

By 13 August 2014 the LSF presence in Benghazi was almost entirely limited to Benina Airport; the base of Operation Dignity's helicopter unit. Many of the forces top commanders were in turn operating out of the Operation Dignity stronghold of Tobruk.[18]

References
  1. Finucci, Francesco. "Libya: military actors and militias" (PDF). Global Security. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  2. Manna, Fatih (12 July 2017). "«الصاعقة» تفتح باب القبول لتجنيد متطوعين في الخدمة العسكرية" ["Thunderbolt" opens the door to recruit volunteers for military service]. Al-Wasat. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. "مقتل عناصر من القوات الخاصة الليبية في اشتباكات مع مسلحين في بنغازي" [Members of the Libyan Special Forces killed in clashes with gunmen in Benghazi]. فرانس 24 / France 24 (in Arabic). 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  4. "Grenade thrown at entrance to Saiqa headquarters in Buatni". European Affairs. 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  5. Jazeera, Al. "Mapping Libya's armed groups". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  6. Calder, Ryan (2011-04-05). "The Accordion War: Libya's Ever-Moving Front". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  7. "هل تصبح الصاعقة رأس حربة لقوات حفتر؟" [Will the Thunderbolt become a spearhead for Haftar's forces?]. www.aljazeera.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  8. "ICC-01/11-01/17: The Prosecutor v. Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli Warrant of Arrest" (PDF). International Criminal Court. 2017-08-15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  9. The Office of the Prosecutor (9 May 2018). "Fifteenth report of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to the United Nations Security Council pursuant to UNSCR 1970 (2011)" (PDF). International Criminal Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  10. "Libya: Threat of Tripoli Fighting Raises Atrocity Concerns — Hiftar's Forces, Rival Militias Have History of Abuses". Human Rights Watch. 6 April 2019. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  11. "Guide to key Libyan militias and other armed groups". BBC News. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  12. "Abdul Salam Al-Hassi Becomes Commander of the Libyan Special Forces". Libya Review. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  13. Dorda, Mohamed; Crowley, Oliver; Moshashai, Daniel (December 2020). "Eastern Libya's Situation Grows Fragile". Inside Libya. Konrad Adenauer Foundation (4): 9–11. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  14. Algattani, Ali (2013-07-31). "Benghazi faces tough task securing streets". Magharebia. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  15. McGregor, Andrew. "LIBYAN SPECIAL FORCES EXPEL ANSAR AL-SHARI'A FROM BENGHAZI". Aberfoyle International Security. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  16. Burweila, Aya (29 January 2014). "Libya, Syria, and the Resurgence of Al-Qaeda". The Jerusalem Review. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  17. Amzein, Aimen (11 August 2014). "Sixty-three Saiqa members killed and 200 wounded in July fighting". Libya Herald. Benghazi. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  18. Ibrahim, Noora (13 August 2014). "Ansar increases presence at Benina check-point as criticism of Saiqa mounts". Libya Herald. Benghazi. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
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