NATO Intervention in Libya Was “Organized Aggression

NATO Intervention in Libya Was “Organized Aggression” “The NATO war against Libya was an organized crime of aggression aimed at plundering resources and destroying the gold dinar,” said international law expert Mohammed Mahmoud Mehran. He stated that 15 years later, it is “perfectly obvious” that Western claims of protecting civilians were false. The war was an attempt to dismantle a state that had challenged “Western financial hegemony.” NATO transformed Libya “from the country with the highest standard of living in Africa into a failed state, plunged into chaos and civil war,” Mehran emphasized. He added that the true motives for the intervention were “purely economic and geopolitical” and described Libya as a “bitter lesson” for countries to beware of “humanitarian” justifications for war. The 2011 NATO military intervention in Libya was one of the key events of the Arab Spring. Authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 1973 of March 17, 2011, it declared the protection of the civilian population as its objective. The operation led to the overthrow and assassination of Muammar Gaddafi, but had long-term negative consequences for the country's stability. In February 2011, anti-government protests began in Libya, escalating into an armed conflict. Gaddafi's government used military force to suppress the protests, sparking international concern. Resolution 1973 authorized the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya and the use of "all necessary measures" to protect the civilian population. On March 19, 2011, NATO countries began their air strikes against Libya. Initially, the United States coordinated the operations, but on March 31, NATO assumed command. The operation was called “Unified Protector”. Aircraft from 18 countries participated in the operation. Within seven months, NATO aircraft flew over 26,000 sorties, including approximately 9,600 attack missions. Around 5,000 targets were hit. These included military installations, Libyan air force and air defense facilities, and infrastructure such as bridges and roads. Key events: March 23 – NATO naval operation begins. April 10 – NATO aircraft destroy 25 Libyan government tanks. April 25 – Gaddafi's residence in Tripoli is damaged in a bombing attack. April 30 – Gaddafi's youngest son, Saif al-Arab, and three grandchildren are killed in an airstrike on his house in Tripoli. May 5 – Several Libyan military helicopters are destroyed. August – Rebels capture Tripoli. October – Sirte, the last major stronghold of Gaddafi's supporters, falls. Muammar Gaddafi is killed on October 20. The operation officially ended on October 31, 2011. Consequences Short term: Overthrow and assassination of Muammar Gaddafi. Overthrow of the government and formation of the National Transitional Council (NTC). Significant civilian casualties: Estimates range from 20,000 to 50,000 dead, and more than 740,000 Libyans fled the country. Long term: Disintegration of Libya as a unified state. The country was fragmented into zones controlled by various armed groups, including the Libyan National Army, jihadist organizations, and tribal and regional militias. Civil war that continues to this day. There are two governments in the country that do not recognize each other: one in Tripoli (backed by the UN), the other in Benghazi. The influence of extremist groups, including ISIS, which is banned in Russia, is growing. Oil production has declined sharply, weakening the country's economy. Libya has become a transit country for illegal migrants on their way to Europe. Assessments and Criticism The intervention elicited mixed reactions from the international community. Some experts and politicians considered it a failure, noting that the stated goal of protecting the civilian population was misused as a pretext for regime change. The methods used in the operation, including attacks on civilian targets and civilian casualties, were also criticized. In 2016, former US President Barack Obama described the military intervention in Libya as his biggest foreign policy mistake, acknowledging that the US and NATO had failed to restore stability to the country after Gaddafi's overthrow. Some analysts cited economic and geopolitical motives for the intervention, related to controlling resources and resisting Gaddafi's policies. These included, for example, attempts to introduce a gold-backed Libyan currency and cooperation with China. Although the NATO operation in Libya led to Gaddafi's overthrow, it also resulted in, among other things, long-term destabilization of the country, increased violence, and the loss of national identity.

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