Battle of Sabha (2019)

The Battle of Sabha was a military confrontation in Sabha from 15 January to 4 February 2019 between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Government of National Accord (GNA) during the Southern Libya offensive of the Second Libyan Civil War.

Battle of Sabha
Part of the Southern Libya offensive and Second Libyan Civil War

Map showing the LNA's advances in southern Libya
Date15 January – 4 February 2019
Location
Sabha, Libya
Result LNA victory
Belligerents

Libya House of Representatives

 Libya Government of National Accord
Toubou militias
 Islamic State
al-Qaeda AQIM
Commanders and leaders
Khalifa Haftar Fayez al-Sarraj

Battle

The LNA started taking positions near Sabha on 15 January.[1] On 18 January, the LNA raided AQIM and ISIS militants northwest of Sabha, claiming to have killed three of their notable members. Clashes continued between the LNA and militias within the city of Sabha, although the airport stayed under the control of the GNA.[2] On 1February, Toubou tribesmen ambushed and killed four members of the 128th brigade of the LNA. A day after the LNA announced control of the town, heavy fighting broke out between Toubou fighters and the LNA in the town of Ghadduwah, south of Sabha.[3] LNA forces secured Sabha airport and other strategic sites after local groups agreed to hand them over.[4] The commander of the sixth infantry unit of the GNA, Hamid al-Atabi, accused the Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj of not providing adequate support to his forces, which resulted in the GNA retreat from Sabha on 4 February.[5] Control of Sabha is seen as vital for controlling southern Libya's oilfields, allowing the LNA to secure oil facilities including El Sharara oil field, the biggest in Libya.[4]

References
  1. "New batch of Dignity Operation militias arrive in Sabha | The Libya Observer". libyaobserver.ly. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  2. Zaptia, Sami (2019-01-20). "Terror suspects killed in large LNA operation in south Libya". LibyaHerald. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  3. "Dignity Operation armed groups ambushed in southern Libya | The Libya Observer". libyaobserver.ly. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  4. "Eastern Libya government delegation visits key southern city of Sabha". Arab News. 2019-01-28. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  5. "Haftar's forces storm houses of opponents in Libya's Sabha | The Libya Observer". libyaobserver.ly. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
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