101 Battalion, also known as 101 Brigade or Tajura Battalion, was a military insurgent unit in the eastern suburbs of Tripoli, aligned with Khalifa Haftar and the Libyan National Army.[1] It was particularly associated with the suburbs of Tajura[1] and Fashloum.
Origin and name
101 Battalion, based in Tajura,[1] took its name from the Libyan National Army's 101 Light Infantry Battalion.[citation needed]
Leadership
In 2013, 101 Battalion was led by Misbah al-Harna.[1] It was later led by Abdullah Sassi until his capture and apparent execution in April 2015.[2]
Battles
On 16 November 2013, 101 Battalion was attacked at its Tajura base by Misratan forces. A Tajura military council member and a Tripoli local council member claimed that 101 Battalion had abandoned the base, and that the Tajura military council had organised forces that had forced the Misratan attackers to leave.[1]
On 17 April 2017, 101 Battalion attacked Libya Dawn forces in Tajura. The Libya Dawn forces detained and killed Abdulla Sassi, according to Afrigate News.[2] Libya Dawn sources denied the claim that Sassi was killed.[citation needed] Abdullah Sassi had previously been involved in the revolution against Muammar Gaddafi, in which Sassi's sister was killed by pro-Gaddafi forces for subversive activities.[citation needed] Abd al-Basit Sharr was accused of having executed Sassi and was himself executed on 31 December 2015 in Tajura.[2]
References
