SUMMARY

Saraya Difaa al-Bengazhi(SDB, or "Benghazi Defense Brigade") was created in May 2016, primarily as a reaction to the vigorous “anti-Islamist” campaign conducted in eastern Libya by the Forces of the House of Representatives, led by “Field Marshal” Khalifa Haftar. SDB was comprised of a disparate collection of commanders and cadres from militias expelled from Benghazi by the Forces of the House of Representatives. On 18 June 2016, SDB launched an offensive against Ajdabiya, a town southwest of Benghazi; reportedly, SDB southeast of Benghazi, including Sultan, Kurkūrah, and Al Maqrun villages. However, the House of Representatives successfully repelled the attacks; SDB was forced to retreat to its bases in Jufrah district. In December, SDB forces unsuccessfully attempted to capture strategically important oil infrastructure in the “Oil Crescent” area on the Gulf of Sirte coast from the House of Representatives. While the quality of the reporting of these various clashes was poor, dozens of people were reportedly killed.

In 2017, SDB continued its attacks against the House of Representatives, with the most intense fighting taking place around the oil port in Ras Lanuf in March. In total, the March fighting in the “Oil Crescent” claimed at least 40 lives on both sides. Clashes between the two groups also occurred in other locations in central Libya. In May 2017, SDB participated in the attack on Brak al-Shati airbase, where more than 100 House of Representatives militiamen and civilians were killed under execution-like circumstances. Many of the victims had been killed by a single gunshot at a very close range, and some victims appeared to have been crushed to death using military vehicles. However, as the government-affiliated Misratan Third Force militia also participated in the attack, it was included in the Government of Libya – Forces of the House of Representatives dyad. Nevertheless, the massacre at Brak al-Shati led to a disastrous loss of public image for SDB, and eventually led to internal splits within the group. After this, it was unclear whether SDB still constituted a capable armed force.

The non-state conflict between SDB and Forces of the House of Representatives is first included in UCDP data in 2016. In July of that year, clashes between the two groups had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.