106th Brigade
Active2018
Country Libya
AllegianceHouse of Representatives
BranchLibyan National Army
SizeBrigade
EngagementsBattle of Derna (2018–2019)
Western Libya campaign (2019)

The 106th Brigade (or Awlia Aldem, Arabic: أوليء الدم)[1][2] is a military unit of the Libyan National Army, loyal to Field marshal Khalifa Haftar. It was established as a brigade in 2018.

History

The 106th Battalion was created in 2016, from militias serving as Haftar's personal guard in 2014. It became the 106th Brigade in 2018, through incorporation of various other units.[3][4]

The 106th Battalion first saw combat in the 2018 Battle of Derna.[4][5]

The brigade participated in the capture of Sabha in January 2019.[6] It fought in the failed Tripoli offensive, beginning hostilities on the night of April 4 by seizing a checkpoint between Tripoli and Zawiya.[7] The brigade then performed poorly in the offensive around Zawiya.[3] Many of the brigade's soldiers were captured by the Government of National Accord forces.[4][5]

On 17 July 2019, according to witnesses cited by The Independent and a family member cited by CNN, 25–30 masked, uniformed 106th Brigade members abducted member of the Libyan House of Representatives Seham Sergiwa in Benghazi.[1][2]

In May 2022, the 106th Brigade was deployed to the Chad–Libya border.[8][9]

Commander

The 106th Battalion was commanded by Haftar's son, Saddam. He was replaced by his brother Khalid.[10] Major General Salem Rahil took command in mid-2019 but Khalid Haftar remains the de facto leader of the unit.[3]

Equipment and fighters

Due to its link with Haftar's family, the Brigade has received many modern equipements,[3][7] such as Emirati Nimr and Jordanian Al-Wahsh APCs, and Kornet ATGM.[5] It also received TAG Terrier LT-79 APCs in December 2019.[11]

The Brigade is more professional than previous units of the LNA.[5] The brigade received officers from the new NLA military academy.[3] However, the induction of poorly trained recruits in 2019 reduced the military potential of the brigade.[5]

Composition

  • 123rd Battalion[3]
  • 126th Battalion[3]
  • 155th Battalion[3]
  • 166th Battalion[3]
  • 192nd Battalion[3]
  • 208th Battalion[3]
  • 214th Tank Battalion[3]
  • 270th Battalion[3]
  • 322nd Artillery Battalion[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Lister, Tim; Bashir, Nada (20 July 2019). "She's one of the most prominent female politicians in her country. A few days ago she was abducted from her house". CNN. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 Sengupta, Kim (29 July 2019). "Libyan MP and rights campaigner dragged away by masked gunmen after criticising warlord: 'Don't cross the line of the army'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "02 Inside the LAAF's armed networks". Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank. Archived from the original on 2021-09-12. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Larcher, Wolfram (November 2020). "A Most Irregular Army: The Rise of Khalifa Haftar's Libyan Arab Armed Forces" (PDF). Working Paper Research Division Middle East and Africa. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Harchaoui, Jalel; Lazib, Mohamed-Essaïd (2019-07-24). "Proxy War Dynamics in Libya". doi:10.21061/proxy-wars-harchaoui-lazib.
  6. ↑ "Libya: Haftar Forces Take Control of Sabha Citadel". Asharq Al-Awsat. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  7. 1 2 Lacher, Wolfram (August 2019). "WHO IS FIGHTING WHOM IN TRIPOLI?: How the 2019 Civil War is Transforming Libya's Military Landscape". Small Arms Survey Briefing Paper.
  8. ↑ "Libya Army Deploys Extra Troops Near Chadian Borders". LibyaReview. 2022-05-24. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  9. ↑ "Libyan Army: Military Operations Continue Against Terrorists". LibyaReview. 2022-06-13. Archived from the original on 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  10. ↑ Lacher, Wolfram (2021-12-20). "Social Cleavages and Armed Group Consolidation: The Case of Khalifa Haftar's Libyan Arab Armed Forces". Studies in Conflict & Terrorism: 1–25. doi:10.1080/1057610X.2021.2013757. ISSN 1057-610X.
  11. ↑ "Libya brigade gets new armoured vehicles". Janes.com. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
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