The 2012 Tripoli airport clashes occurred on 4 June 2012, after members of the Al-Awfea militia stormed the

Tripoli International Airport Tripoli International Airport () is a closed international airport built to serve Tripoli, the capital city of Libya. The airport is located in the area of Qasr bin Ghashir, from central Tripoli. It used to be the hub for Libyan Airlines, ...

as a measure to prompt the government's release of its jailed leader, Abu Oegeila al-Hebshi.

Background

The Tarhouna Al-Awfea

militia A militia ( ) is a military or paramilitary force that comprises civilian members, as opposed to a professional standing army of regular, full-time military personnel. Militias may be raised in times of need to support regular troops or se ...

group was enlisted under the command of the

Libyan National Army The Libyan National Army (LNA; , ''al-jaysh al-waṭaniyy al-Lībii''), also known as the Libyan Arab Army (LAA; , ''al-Jaysh al-'Arabiyy al-Lībii'') or the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF; ), is a component of Libyan Armed Forces, Libya's mil ...

, and performed several missions tasked by military command. On the day before the clashes, Commander Abu-Alija Habshi travelled to Tripoli with two tanks that were to be given to the

army barracks Barracks are buildings used to accommodate military personnel and quasi-military personnel such as police. The English word originates from the 17th century via French and Italian from an old Spanish word 'soldier's tent', but today barracks ar ...

. However, Habshi was stopped at a checkpoint outside of Tripoli and was asked to leave the tanks there instead; he was also informed that he needed to return to Tarhouna in order to obtain proper government documentation. However, that was the last time Habshi has been reported seen by anyone. The Libyan government has denied any involvement in Habshi's disappearance, but militiamen under the Commander's authority have alleged that the security forces are closely connected with the disappearance.

Events

200 gunmen belonging to the Al-Awfea militia took control of the

and stopped all flights, after Al-Awfea militiamen ignored the ultimatum given by Defence minister Osama Juwaili to surrender the SSC and MoD forces that stormed the airport, destroyed one tank and captured the other and also arrested more than 172 Tarhouni militiamen.

Aftermath

The airport remained non-functional after the clashes. Government spokesman Nasser al-Manee said that "the airport will resume operation within 24 hours. eheard there were some injured". The next day, on 6 June, some airlines restarted their flights from Tripoli International.

References

* Hadeel Al Shalchi (4 June 2012
"Fighting at Tripoli airport, gunmen surround planes"

Reuters Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world. The agency ...

. Retrieved on 18 June 2012 {{DEFAULTSORT:Tripoli airport clashes, 2012 Conflicts in 2012 2012 in Libya Airport clashes, 2012 Aftermath of the Libyan civil war (2011) Battles and conflicts without fatalities Attacks on airports in Libya June 2012 in Libya Attacks on buildings and structures in 2012 Military operations involving airports