Libya: The Battle for Tripoli

Where is Gaddafi? The question on everybody’s lips continues to go unanswered as the rebels step up the hunt for the elusive dictator. The rebel opposition has placed a $2 million bounty for the capture or death of Gaddafi but so far, the prize goes unclaimed. On Wednesday, Muammar took to the airwaves to taunt the rebels and call upon his loyalists to rise up in Tripoli. He added that he was no longer at his compound having retreated in a “tactical move” after NATO airstrikes destroyed much of it. No one can verify the authenticity of the recording.

After months of what appareared to be a stalemate between Gaddafi loyalists and the rebel opposition, why this sudden turn of events? The Atlantic Wire asks this questions and tries to answer it in their August 22 article entitled “How Did Tripoli’s Stubborn Stalemate Suddenly Become a Rout?” In a nutshell, they point to better coordination between the rebels and NATO. While the NATO bombings seem to have been going on forever, they have been effective in reducing Gaddafi’s ability to wage war. The article also talks of sleeper cells in Tripoli. Apparently the rebel forces have been working behind the scenes for months in readying fighters within the city to be activated and start fighting the loyalists on their home turf. Finally the east west assault, the cutting of supply lines with Tunisia simply pushed Gaddafi to extend what forces he had too far.

Several videos have been posted showing jubulant people in Tripoli celebrating but this may be premature. The fighting isn’t over yet as the rebels keep finding pockets of loyalist troops still battling what seems to be a lost war. If these mecenaries are being paid by Gaddafi, at what point do they decide that all is lost and steal off into the night? Are they still being paid? After all, with Gaddafi himself on the run just what access does he have to any finances. Many countries have frozen Libyan assets so what’s left within the country itself?

The rebel opposition has been lobbying to get a hold of some of those assets to begin the process of financing reconstruction, pay salaries and repair critical oil facilities. APparently the U.N. Security Council will be voting this week on a resolution to release $1.5 billion in Libyan assetsin U.S. banks which was frozen by the world body in an attempt to thwart Gaddafi. It is estimated that as much as $110 billion is frozen worldwide.

Speculation has it that Gaddafi may have already left Tripoli for Sirte. Taking the city may not be easy as it is said that Gaddafi’s fellow tribemen will put up a fierce fight.

Published on Aug 24, 2011 by Euronews

Search for Gaddafi centres on southern Tripoli

There is fighting reported in southern areas of Tripoli where Libyan rebel commanders believe Muammar Gaddafi might be in hiding. The hunt has been on for the embattled Libyan leader ever since the popular uprising flooded into the capital Tripoli. Gaddafi’s flamboyant appearances have been reduced to indistinct audio messages sent from undisclosed locations. In the latest broadcast he claimed to have been on the streets of Tripoli incognito.

Uploaded by RussiaToday on Aug 25, 2011

Libyration? Video of rebels saluting success in Tripoli

Hundreds of rebels gathered in Tripoli’s Green Square on Wednesday night to celebrate their growing control of the capital, and the perceived end of the Gadhafi regime. Fireworks lit up the night sky amid victorious chanting and gunfire. After they took it over late on Sunday night, rebels declared that Green Square would now be called Martyr’s Square – restoring the name it had before Gadhafi’s regime took power more than four decades ago. The rebels have taken control of much of Libya with the help of a relentless NATO air campaign that included about 7,500 strike attacks against Moammar Gadhafi’s forces. His defences around Tripoli melted away as the rebels rapidly advanced and entered the capital on Sunday.

References

Wikipedia: 2011 Battle of Tripoli

The Battle of Tripoli is an ongoing military confrontation in Tripoli, Libya, being fought between loyalists of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the National Liberation Army. The battle began on 20 August 2011, six months after the 2011 Libyan civil war started, with an uprising within the city; rebel forces outside the city planned an offensive to link up with elements within Tripoli, and eventually overtake the nation’s capital, which had spanned out over an entire day.

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