The date October 15, 2014, stands as a pivotal milestone in the history of Benghazi and in the collective memory of all Libyans. It marked the beginning of the Armed Uprising, a moment where the will of the populace merged with the Libyan National Army to reclaim the city from extremist groups.
Before this day, the city was gripped by sheer terror; cemeteries were filling, hospitals were overwhelmed with the wounded, and widespread destruction marred streets and buildings. The only sounds rising above the constant gunfire were the call to prayer, the sirens, and the cries of women, children, and men alike, a city where, as described, “men wept.”
Roots of Conflict: Dignity Operation and Assassination Spree
The deep origins of this conflict trace back to the Operation Dignity, launched on May 16, 2014, by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, then-Major General Khalifa Haftar. The declared objective was to eradicate the hardline factions responsible for murdering hundreds of army officers, police, activists, journalists, and political and social elites.
The rate of assassinations at the time peaked at nearly 18 incidents per day, sparking immense public outrage that propelled the army into a wide offensive against armed groups affiliated with Ansar al-Sharia, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda.
Despite the military’s comparatively limited armament then, the forces confronted an alliance of these extremist organisations, reportedly receiving logistical backing from political factions in western Libya. This led to the army’s withdrawal and fortification at the Benina Air Base east of the city, leaving large swathes of Benghazi under militant control.
The Uprising and Decisive Advances
On October 15, 2014, following a series of battles in which the army lost crucial ground, most notably the Special Forces camp in Buatni, the city’s residents declared their armed revolt under the banner of the “October 15th Armed Uprising.”
The youth of Benghazi, then dubbed the “Al-Sahawat” (the Awakening), mobilised in a coordinated effort, taking up arms in their neighbourhoods to launch fierce confrontations against extremists across several districts. This popular action coincided with the army’s push from its positions in Regdaleh and Benina towards the city centre, an operation termed “The Army’s Descent.”
Within a single week, the forces managed to recapture most of Benghazi’s districts, cornering militants into limited pockets, including Al-Lithy, Al-Sabri, Souq Al-Hout, Al-Qawarsha, Buatni, and Ghuwaria.
The Media War and the Three-Year Battle
These terrorist factions had benefited from local media support from private funding channels such as Al-Naba and Al-Libya Al-Ahrar channels. Conversely, the national media fought its own battle alongside the army, led by outlets like Libya Awwal and Libya Al-Karama. The protracted fighting lasted until 2017, as the Libyan Army waged a bitter war to liberate the remaining neighbourhoods where militants were entrenched among civilians.
This conflict was complicated by the militants’ use of human shields and the continuous flow of supplies reaching them by sea via vessels known as the “Death Trawlers” originating from certain cities in the west. Nevertheless, the Libyan Army advanced steadily until Field Marshal Haftar announced the complete liberation of Benghazi from terrorism on July 5, 2017, ushering in a new phase of reconstruction and security consolidation.
Birth of an Army Forged in Suffering
This war served as a crucible for a disciplined, professional army, born to win, with training overseen by senior officers and non-commissioned personnel. The anti-terrorism war concluded, launching a relentless reconstruction effort that swept across the country, emanating from Benghazi to Tobruk in the east, south to Sabha and Al-Owainat, and west towards Sirte, Al-Agheila, and Tawergha.
The date October 15, 2014, remains a national symbol of Libyan unity against terrorism and a memory of the sacrifices made by Benghazi’s sons who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the army in one of modern Libya’s most decisive periods, reminding the nation of its capacity to unite against existential threats to security and stability.
