Libyan Uprising - Page 22

Muammar Gaddafi's forces are waging counterattacks on anti-government rebels along the central Libyan coast, with air raids and ground battles reported in Bin Jawad, Ras Lanuf, Az-Zawiyah and Misurata.

Gaddafi is facing an uprising since February 17 that poses the biggest challenge ever to his four-decade rule over the oil-rich north African nation.

Bin Jawad was reclaimed by government forces on Sunday, but opposition rebels continued to advance on the area amid conflicting claims about the capture and recapture of several strategic Libyan cities and towns.

Sources report deadly clashes took place in the area, that lies in the middle of the coastline between the opposition stronghold of Benghazi and the capital, Tripoli, over which Gaddafi retains a tight grip.

Injured opposition fighters had been taken to the local hospital in nearby Ras Lanuf, a rebel-held town.

Rebels in Misurata also beat back Gaddafi's forces in heavy fighting that left 18 people killed, a local doctor told the Reuters news agency.

Gaddafi meanwhile made a fleeting appearance on Libyan state television on Sunday night, but disappeared almost immediately.

1:20am

Associated Press - Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says US and its allies should plan for a no-fly zone over Libya, and consider bombing the country's airports and runways, but they should take no action unless there is an international agreement.

But White and US defence officials remain reluctant.

"Lots of people throw around phrases of `no-fly zone' and they talk about it as though it's just a game, a video game or something. Some people who throw that line out have no idea what they're talking about," White House chief of staff William Daley said.

1:05am

Mohammed Ali, a member of the civil committee for Misurata affairs, tells Al Jazeera that rebels are in control of the area.

"We have also captured some Gaddafi [government] soldiers, and we will interrogate them. They will be shown on television on Monday," he said.

Our armoury is not a lot, but we have moral strength. We also need specific outside help, and a no-fly zone is long overdue."

On March 07 2011 05:47 Alshahin wrote:
Kukaracha, your attitude is the worst one you can have towards other people.

You are telling people they can't have an opinion on the internet? WTF You are a malicious idiot. And that's my opinion. Don't ask me to prove that until you prove I am xenophobic and ignorant. It seems I have more information you have so far. Also, you have been wrong several times, including about deserts.

Libya is 99% desert. I have the source right now and it is very respected. It takes just 10 seconds to google. But I won't spoon feed it you. You aren't worthy. I don't care if you are wrong.

As for all the tanks and support they have, who says those are on the attack right now? We don't know much but we do know the rebels aren't executing a unified and well organized operation towards Tripoli. Groups of people are acting on their own accords. Yes, there are tanks. But people attack without them. If they think their enemy is routed they will be very far away from all these tanks in those bases near Benghazi. We also know for a fact that those senior military people on the national council have so far only said that they can attack Sirte, but that they said they won't just yet.

Just wait a few days and see if my guess and speculation is true or not. Also, I suggest you turn off Al Jazeera because 98% of what they say is speculation and opinion. Not fact with sources and thorough research. Have a nice time.

And next time you are going to enter a discussion about military tactics, at least know something.
Also, next time when someone presents to you information that seem to be a revelation, don't feel personally insulted and go for an all out personal attack.

On March 07 2011 12:46 jambam wrote:


I'm a little uneducated in these matters, what's the function of a no-fly zone? How does it help the rebels?

On March 07 2011 00:38 Alshahin wrote:
I fear that the strategy of Gaddafi is to fake retreats with his well trained and disciplined troops and lure the rag tag armed civilians into or near Sirte and then hit the vanguard of the rebels very hard.

Yet the rebels believe they are winning extremely easy with little resistance, it seems.

On March 07 2011 01:57 Kukaracha wrote:
Al Jazeera blog


Situation in Ras Lanuf




French newspaper Le Monde, about Zaouïa:

He's roughly saying that many are wounded and 7 dead, that hospitals are overcrowded and they need help.

On March 07 2011 02:18 Alshahin wrote:
Typical French person that thinks everyone knows French.

...

Remember that the Libyan army is not a professional army. The rebels that are on the attack right now don't have tanks. They don't have organization.

...

So we just see a group of hundred civilians who never shot a gun touring around the desert, open to air attacks.

On March 07 2011 02:55 Alshahin wrote:
You are an ignorant asshole.

...

I have one source. My own opinion.

On March 07 2011 05:47 Alshahin wrote:
Kukaracha, your attitude is the worst one you can have towards other people.

Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a "day of rage" from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago.

Washington's request is in line with other US military co-operation with the Saudis. The royal family in Jeddah, which was deeply involved in the Contra scandal during the Reagan administration, gave immediate support to American efforts to arm guerrillas fighting the Soviet army in Afghanistan in 1980 and later – to America's chagrin – also funded and armed the Taliban.

But the Saudis remain the only US Arab ally strategically placed and capable of furnishing weapons to the guerrillas of Libya. Their assistance would allow Washington to disclaim any military involvement in the supply chain – even though the arms would be American and paid for by the Saudis.