Battle of Misurata

The Battle of Misurata is a battle of the 2011 Libyan uprising. It is a clash between pro-Gaddafi militia and Anti-Gaddafi forces, which holds the airport in Misurata, the third largest city in Libya.

Gaddafi loyalists armed with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars fired at a group of opposition fighters guarding the airport. During the fighting, the airport's defenders seized a ZPU-4 anti-aircraft gun used by the militias and turned it against them. When the battle started, officers from an air force school near the airport mutinied and helped the opposition attack an adjacent military air base where Gadhafi's troops were stationed. The officers then disabled fighter jets at the base to prevent them from being used against the uprising.

On the evening of the second day of the battle, Gaddafi's forces, supported by tanks, succeeded in retaking part of the military air base. Fighting at the base continued until after midnight, leaving 22 dead.

On February 28, it was reported that opposition forces shot down a government warplane. Also, there was a new attempt by government troops to advance at the air base but it was repelled by the opposition. No casualties occured during the fighting, however, eight loyalist soldiers were captured.

On March 1, it was reported that Pro-Ghaddafi military was attacking the city again with heavy weapons against protesters who had only small arms.

(sourceLwikipedia)