Douz skirmish: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Military Conflict |
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#REDIRECT [[Douz#2011 skirmish with Libyan forces]] |
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|conflict= Douz skirmish |
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|partof= [[2011 Libyan civil war]] |
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|image= |
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|caption= |
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|date= 19 August 2011 - 20 August 2011 |
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|place=[[Douz]], [[Tunisia]] |
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|result= Tactical Libyan victory, stragegically inconclusive |
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|combatant1= '''{{flag|Tunisia}}'''<br> |
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*[[Tunisian Army]] |
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|combatant2= '''{{flagicon|Libya|1977}} {{flagicon|Libya}} Libyans, believed to be [[Politics of Libya#Members of the Gaddafi regime|Gaddafi Loyalists]]'''<ref name="jpost">http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=234616</ref> |
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* [[Military of Libya#Paramilitary forces|Paramilitary forces]] |
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|strength1= Unknown |
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|strength2= At least eight vehicles |
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|commander1= |
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|commander2= |
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|casualties1= 2 killed, several wounded |
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|casualties2= Unknown |
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}} |
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{{Campaignbox 2011 Libyan civil war}} |
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The '''Douz skirmish''' was a conflict that began late on 19 August 2011, when [[Tunisia]]n security intercepted armed men, suspected to be [[Libya]]n in vehicles in the [[Sahara desert]]. |
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==Background== |
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Exactly how the clashes came to be stands as somewhat of a mystery but tensions between Libya and Tunisia were high after the [[Battle of Wazzin]] in the Nafusa Mountains in which Libyans of both factions violated the Tunisian border with shells landing in Tunisian territory casusing Tunisian civilian casualties.<ref>http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/05/01/49716843.html</ref> Douz lies far from the Libyan border and the Libyan men didn't seem to intend to instigate any conflict so their motives still remain unknown. |
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Before the battle there had been no indication of any conflict on the horizon. |
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==The Battle== |
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Once the Tunisian police arrived on the scene, the men in the vehicles opened fire on them<ref>http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/tunisia-bolsters-security-near-doux</ref>. Fighting reportedly lasted through the night, and ended on the morning of 20 August. Several Tunisian casualties were reported.<ref>http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-aug-20-2011-1627</ref><ref name="jpost"/> Local residents stated that [[Tunisian Army|army]] reinforcements were called from nearby towns, and [[helicopter]]s assisted in the battle as well. The battle was reported to have been a fairly intense firefight.<ref>http://www.babnet.net/en_detail-29573.asp</ref> The surrounding area was quickly courdoned off by Tunisian re-enforcements, some coming from as far away as [[Tunis]].<ref>http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1658102.php/Clashes-reported-at-Tunisia-Libya-border</ref> Two Tunisian soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed during the operations in the border area.<ref>[http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/2011/08/20/two-dead-in-tunisia-helicopter-crash Two dead in Tunisia helicopter crash]</ref> |
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The Libyans reportedly had at least eight vehicles, and were armed with "ultramodern" weapons.<ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/08/20/tunisia.unrest/</ref><ref>http://www.babnet.net/en_detail-29573.asp</ref> Their identity was unclear, but local residents believed them to be loyalist Gaddafi supporters.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/20/us-libya-idUSTRE77A2Y920110820</ref> Although, it was suggested that they might not have represented either faction in the civil war.<ref>http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/tunisia-bolsters-security-near-doux</ref> |
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Tunisian authorities reported that many of the Libyans escaped the skirmish. The Tunisians swept the area for them extensively yet came up with nothing, meaning that the Libyans involved are still at large and may have escaped back into Libya.<ref>http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i30PJvjZW2ZQVj_ErTvuAgrm-bLA?docId=CNG.c50e5128b5abf6b769362c3004b97912.5f1</ref> Reports state that the Tunisian air force was called in to help with the search.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8713003/Libya-Gaddafis-hold-weakens-as-rebels-claim-key-oil-hub-Brega.html</ref> |
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[[Douz]] lies in south-central Tunisia, far from the border with Libya. |
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This was the second clash with Tunisian forces during the Libyan conflict, the first being during the [[Battle of Wazzin]]. |
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==Identity of the Attackers== |
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Although it's generally agreed that the attackers were Libyan, their motives remain completely unknown. Despite rumours that they were Gaddafi loyalists, there is no evidence of this.<ref>http://www.babnet.net/en_detail-29573.asp</ref> |
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==Aftermath== |
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After the clashes, there was a lull, then at the beginning of September, locals caused a few small desturbances, resulting in one death and a city wide cerfew. Since then there have been no further incidents.<ref>http://www.tunisia-live.net/2011/09/02/curfew-imposed-in-douz/</ref> |
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Although Douz itself has been calm, there has been another clash between Libyans and Tunisians in the [[2011 Ras Ajdir clashes]].<ref>http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d6f9b5be-d283-11e0-a409-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=rss#axzz1XGsFRCYg</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{2011 Libyan protests}} |
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[[Category:Battles of the 2011 Libyan civil war]] |
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[[Category:Conflicts in 2011]] |
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[[Category:Battles involving Libya]] |
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[[Category:Battles involving Tunisia]] |
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Revision as of 16:53, 22 October 2011
| Douz skirmish | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of 2011 Libyan civil war | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | At least eight vehicles | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2 killed, several wounded | Unknown | ||||||
The Douz skirmish was a conflict that began late on 19 August 2011, when Tunisian security intercepted armed men, suspected to be Libyan in vehicles in the Sahara desert.
Background
Exactly how the clashes came to be stands as somewhat of a mystery but tensions between Libya and Tunisia were high after the Battle of Wazzin in the Nafusa Mountains in which Libyans of both factions violated the Tunisian border with shells landing in Tunisian territory casusing Tunisian civilian casualties.[2] Douz lies far from the Libyan border and the Libyan men didn't seem to intend to instigate any conflict so their motives still remain unknown.
Before the battle there had been no indication of any conflict on the horizon.
The Battle
Once the Tunisian police arrived on the scene, the men in the vehicles opened fire on them[3]. Fighting reportedly lasted through the night, and ended on the morning of 20 August. Several Tunisian casualties were reported.[4][1] Local residents stated that army reinforcements were called from nearby towns, and helicopters assisted in the battle as well. The battle was reported to have been a fairly intense firefight.[5] The surrounding area was quickly courdoned off by Tunisian re-enforcements, some coming from as far away as Tunis.[6] Two Tunisian soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed during the operations in the border area.[7]
The Libyans reportedly had at least eight vehicles, and were armed with "ultramodern" weapons.[8][9] Their identity was unclear, but local residents believed them to be loyalist Gaddafi supporters.[10] Although, it was suggested that they might not have represented either faction in the civil war.[11]
Tunisian authorities reported that many of the Libyans escaped the skirmish. The Tunisians swept the area for them extensively yet came up with nothing, meaning that the Libyans involved are still at large and may have escaped back into Libya.[12] Reports state that the Tunisian air force was called in to help with the search.[13]
Douz lies in south-central Tunisia, far from the border with Libya.
This was the second clash with Tunisian forces during the Libyan conflict, the first being during the Battle of Wazzin.
Identity of the Attackers
Although it's generally agreed that the attackers were Libyan, their motives remain completely unknown. Despite rumours that they were Gaddafi loyalists, there is no evidence of this.[14]
Aftermath
After the clashes, there was a lull, then at the beginning of September, locals caused a few small desturbances, resulting in one death and a city wide cerfew. Since then there have been no further incidents.[15]
Although Douz itself has been calm, there has been another clash between Libyans and Tunisians in the 2011 Ras Ajdir clashes.[16]
References
- ^ a b http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=234616
- ^ http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/05/01/49716843.html
- ^ http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/tunisia-bolsters-security-near-doux
- ^ http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-aug-20-2011-1627
- ^ http://www.babnet.net/en_detail-29573.asp
- ^ http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1658102.php/Clashes-reported-at-Tunisia-Libya-border
- ^ Two dead in Tunisia helicopter crash
- ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/08/20/tunisia.unrest/
- ^ http://www.babnet.net/en_detail-29573.asp
- ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/20/us-libya-idUSTRE77A2Y920110820
- ^ http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/tunisia-bolsters-security-near-doux
- ^ http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i30PJvjZW2ZQVj_ErTvuAgrm-bLA?docId=CNG.c50e5128b5abf6b769362c3004b97912.5f1
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8713003/Libya-Gaddafis-hold-weakens-as-rebels-claim-key-oil-hub-Brega.html
- ^ http://www.babnet.net/en_detail-29573.asp
- ^ http://www.tunisia-live.net/2011/09/02/curfew-imposed-in-douz/
- ^ http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d6f9b5be-d283-11e0-a409-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=rss#axzz1XGsFRCYg
