- January 14th, 2011: the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi publicly condemns the uprising in the neighboring country of Tunisia despite the uprising beginning in his own country.
- February, 16th 2011: Protests erupt in Benghazi, Libya after the arrest of a human rights campaigner. Some witnesses said it was a peaceful protest which was attacked by Gaddafi loyalists. Disturbance spreads to Zentan, south of Tripoli, where a police station was burnt.
- February 17th, 2011: Libya’s government brings out its supporters to express their loyalty to try to stifle a planned “day of rage”. However, violence spreads east of the country, far from Tripoli. Unconfirmed reports say up to 15 people died in the unrest. Clashes were later reported for a second day between those who supported Muammar Gaddafi and the relatives for two of the men killed during a protest in al-Bayda on Wednesday. Disturbance erupted in Benghazi, Libya’s second city and opposition stronghold. It was then reported that snipers have killed four more protesters in Ajdabiya, south of Benghazi, where yet again six more were reported dead by the Libyan al-Yawm news webpage. Images of demonstrations and riots were later published.
- February 18th, 2011: dozens of Libyan protesters were said to have been killed, which was impossible to verify after a media blackout imposed by Gaddafi’s regime, after many government buildings were set on fire and after two policemen were hung by protesters.
- February 20th, 2011: Gaddafi’s son goes on tv to defend his fathers 40 year rule as protest continue.
- February 21st, 2011: two high ranking Libyan air force pilots fled to Malta, revealing they did so after disobeying orders to bomb civilians, as many of Gaddafi’s representatives resign.
- February 22nd, 2011: Gaddafi goes on tv to urge people to fight the uprising, and insist he will die in Libya rather the flee.
- February 23, 2011: Martin Chulov, the first international to reach Benghazi, comes to the city as it falls due to anti-Gadaffi rebels taking control.
- February 25th, 2011: Gaddafi reveals himself and pledges to use full force to quell the riots after more protesters are gunned down by armed men.
- Feb. 26 2011: UN Security Council votes to refer Colonel Gaddafi to International Criminal Court for war crimes.
- March 2, 2011: a mass airlift of Egyptian refugees from Libyan-Tunisian border to Cairo is organized. French, British and Tunisian planes sent as Arab states take caution against intervention.
- March 3rd, 2011: Obama urges Gaddafi to stand down.
- March 5th, 2011: forces loyal to Gaddafi encircled rebels in Zawiyah after a day of fighting in the far west and east of Libya. The fighting in Zawiyah was some of the most savage fighting from the two-week uprising that has been seen east of the country, majority of the east fell into rebel hands. A doctor in Zawiyah reported that at least 30 people, mostly civilians, had been killed during the fighting. The town of Ras Lanuf, which is about 250 miles west of the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, fell to anti-government forces after a day of fighting that left around 20 dead. Residents in the town of Ras Lanuf reported fighting between rebels and loyalist forces that lasted for about 24 hours before the government troops retreated.
- March 6 2011: a British diplomatic effort to reach out to Libyan rebels ends in humiliation as a team of British special forces and intelligence is briefly detained by farmworkers.
- March 7th, 2011: Libya’s rebel forces were attacked by tanks, jets, and troops in order to stop them from advancing into the capital, Tripoli. Libyan jets launch multiple strikes on rebel fighters near the oil city of Ras Lanuf in a counterattack which was designed to stop the rebels from advancing on Gaddafi’s hometown, Sirte.The UN secretary general calls for an end to attacks on civilians.
- March 8th, 2011: Gaddafi’s forces launch a “final assault” on Zawiyah. A no-fly zone was agreed over a telephone call with the president, and a major international operation will swing into action if Gaddafi refuses to leave office.
- March 9, 2011: Gaddafi responds to the no fly order of Libya be saying he will respond with armed force.
- March 10th, 2011: Gaddafi takes key towns, rebels forced to retreat from Ras, Lanuf, and Zawiya. Nato
is in paralysis as US blocks no-fly zone.
- March 11th, 2011: Nicolas Sarkozy, targeted air strikes if Gaddafi’s forces use chemical weapons or air strikes against civilians. EU no-fly zone could risk civilian lives.
- March 12th, 2011: Gaddafi’s forces rout rebels in eastern Libya, making them retreat from the town of Brega under a rain of rockets and shells. This opened up the road to the principal opposition stronghold, Benghazi.
- March
13th, 2011: al-Jazeera cameraman, Ali Hassan al-Jaber, died near rebel held city,
hunted down and ambushed by forces loyal to Muammar Gadaffi.
- March 14th, 2011: the revolution urges western forces to assassinate Gaddafi and launch military strikes against his forces.
- March 18th, 2011: The Security Council votes to authorize all necessary measures to protect civilians that are threatened, Benghazi. 10 members vote in favor, 5 against, resolution rules out putting troops on the ground.
- March 19th 2011- air and missile strikes against Muammar Gaddafi’s military, Operation Odyssey Dawn, biggest assault on Arad since 2003 invasion in Iraq.
- March 22nd 2011- 3rd night of air attacks hit Libya, David Cameron says Gaddafi may be a legitimate target, chief of defense staff denies this, NATO dispute delays handover of operational command from US.
- March 23rd 2011- Britain, France and US agree NATO take military command if Libya’s no-fly zone, separate bodies including Arab have political oversight, defiant Gadaffi criticizes air strikes “by a bunch of fascists”
- March 24th, 2011- French fighter jet destroys a Libyan plane in Misrata, Tripoli claims near 100 civilians died in allied strikes. Mourners call for revenge.
March 25th 2011- Man suspected of murdering PC Yvonne Fletcher outside Libyan embassy in London 1984, arrested by rebel forces. - March 26th, 2011: an air strikes drive Gaddafi loyalists out of the town of Ajdabiya and the town falls into the hands of rebels, this marks their first significant victory since allied airstrikes began. Iman al-Obeidi receives worldwide media attention during the Libyan Civil War, she is later arrested after interrupting a press conference to tell foreign journalists that she was raped by Libyan troops.
- March 27th, 2011- Turkey, offers to broker ceasefire, warning against long conflict. Rebels recapture oil towns, including, Brega, Ras Lanuf and Bin Jawad.
- March 28th, 2011: rebels advance to Gaddafi’s hometown, Sirte. Libyan rebels were rapidly moving more than 150 miles west along Libya’s coastal road, capturing several towns without any resistance. Sirte marked the boundary between the east and west of Libya.
- March 29th 2011- Coalition military action in Libya continue until Muammar Gaddafi complies with UN security council resolution 1973, Hillary Clinton tells world leaders in London Gaddafi’s forces attack rebel fighters, forces retreat.
- March 30th to April 3rd: many of Gaddafi's administrators flee to other countries as obama signs an order to help aid the rebels.
- April 30th, 2011: Gaddafi says he’s worried for libya and attempts to offer the rebels a ceasefire.
- May 12th, 2011: following an airstrike that killed his son and other family members, Gaddafi once again reveals himself during a meeting.
- April 4th 2011- David Cameron, increase in number of Tornado strike aircraft to be deployed to hit Gaddafi’s forces, US moves out.
April 5th 2011- NATO lacks strike aircraft, European countries offer more jets after Americans withdrew their attack aircraft.
April 6th 2011- Britain urges Arab countries to train disorganize Libyan rebels only to strengthen their position on the battlefield before a ceasefire.
April 7th 2011- Turkey proposes a path to peaceful resolution to deadlocked conflict in Libya. It involves a withdrawal of Gaddafi’s forces from the cities held by rebels. Allows aid to enter and democratic reform.
April 8th, 2011- NATO claims to “strongly regret” the loss of life caused by an attack on rebel forces. At least five people were killed. NATO claims to have not been told that the rebels had tanks.
April 9th 2011- A Red Cross ship arrives, carrying medical supplies, docks in a Libyan city of Misrata. Workers also make their way to Zawiyah, which has been virtually off limits to aid agencies.
April 11th 2011- Libya rebel leadership rejects an African Union peace initiative because it does not require Gaddafi to immediately relinquish power. Thousands of demonstrators carrying signs that said: “No solution with Gaddifi staying.”
April 12th 2011- Moussa Koussa, a former Libyan leader, is allowed to leave the UK after being questioned about the Lockerbie bombing. He says Libya is at risk for becoming a “new Somalia.” France says NATO is not doing enough to protect the civilians. - April 13th 2011- At this point, Gaddafi’s regime has “lost all legitimacy” and is force to abdicate his power. There is then a pool of disagreement among the UN if they should allow the delivery of weapons to rebels or not.
- April 15th 2011- Obama signals the return of the forefront in Libya until Gaddafi has been removed.
- April 16th 2011- The Libyan rebels push for NATO to send troops while Misrata is being attacked by Gaddafi’s forces. Evidence of cluster bombs used against civilians surfaces.
- April 19th 2011- Libya states the Anglo-French decision violates the UN remit. Twenty or so children are reported to have been killed by Libyan troops, the killing of Misrata continues.
- April 20th 2011- Tim Hetherrington (UK) and Chris Hondros(US) were among 15 civilians killed.
- April 21st 2011- White House approved the usage of “missile-armed Predator drones” to help NATO demolish Gaddafi’s forces. 11,000 refugees have crossed from Libya into Tunisia in the past ten days.
- April 25th 2011- Libyan government accuses NATO of trying to assassinate Gaddafi, which is in violation of the UN security council resolution.
- April 28th 2011- NATO airstrike kills 12 rebel fighters, also injuring three others in a “friendly fire incident.”
- May 1st 2011- In Tripoli, the British embassy is burned. Britain responded by expelling Libya’s ambassador to London.
- May 3rd 2011- The Swiss government claims to have identified potential assets to be worth near one billion or six hundred million dollars that belong to Gaddafi.
- May 4th 2011- Gaddafi’s regime committed war crimes against democracy protesters. They claim it was “systematic.”
- May 8th 2011- Dozens of African migrants that boarded a boat in Tripoli, going to Lampedusa, were left to die after military units ignored their cries.
May 13th 2011-NATO is accused of “barbarically slaying” 11 imams by bombing a guest house.
- 20 May 2011: Nato warplanes attack Tripoli with more than 20 air strikes, they also hit the area around Gaddafi’s residential compound in what appeared to be the heaviest night of bombing within the city.
- 6 July 2011: Death toll rises as rebel forces from the city of Misrata and from a stronghold further west begin an assault against Gaddafi troops. Fighters from Misrata began their biggest attack in six weeks on a Wednesday which was aimed towards breaking the ring of government forces located in Zlitan, on the road of the Libyan capital. Rebels took control of a government base at the village of al-Qawalish, they took weapons and food that was left behind by retreating Gaddafi troops.
18 July 2011: the help of Nato air strikes, Libyan rebels push towards Brega, one of their most ambitious offensives of the war so far.
28 July 2011: Rebel chief of staff, Abdel Fatah Younis is killed; rebel authorities initially claimed he was assassinated by pro-Gaddafi agents. Before the uprising, Younis was Gaddafi’s interior minister and confidant but when riots broke out in Benghazi he switched sides.
14 August 2011: Libya rebels claim Tripoli advance, rebels in Zawiya claim to be in control of majority of the town, which is only 35 miles west of Tripoli.
18 August 2011: Rebels celebrate milestone of control over coastal highway and capital’s petrol supply.
22 August 2011: Rebels enter Green Square, one of Gaddafi’s sons, Saif al-Islam had said to be captured by the NTC (National Transitional Council). Hundreds of rebel fighters pushed into the centre of Libyan capital, Tripoli, late on a Sunday to try and overthrow the 42-year rule of Muammar Gaddafi, they moved closer towards victory
24 August 2011: Gaddafi vows ‘‘martyrdom or victory’’ as the rebels take over his fortified compound in Tripoli.
16 September 2011: Libyan rebel fighters are involved in very heavy fighting in a final battle to capture Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte. It was one of the last three significant strongholds still held by the old regime.
19 September 2011: Free forces take key part of Shaba, a bastion of support for Gaddafi and other regime fugitives, according to the new rebel government. Heavy fighting still continues in Bani Walid, where Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi had said to be spotted.- 7 October 2011: Anti-Gaddafi troops meet fierce resistance in Sirte, hundreds of fighters pour into coastal city as pro-Gaddafi defenders counter with intense sniper fire.
- 17 October 2011: NTC troops raise flags of Libya’s new government after six-week siege, leaving only parts of Sirte defended by loyalists.
- 20 October 2011: Cornered by government forces and pinned down by NATO airstrikes, Gaddafi is found alive, he was captured while reportedly trying to flee Sirte. Footage of the ensuing chaos suggests he quickly met a brutal end
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