 | This article needs to be updated.(February 2020) |
| February 17th Martyrs Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Logo of the February 17th Martyrs Brigade | |
| Ideology | Islamism |
| Size | 1,500–3,500 |
| Part of | Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries |
| Battles and wars | Libyan Civil War 2012 Benghazi attack Post–civil war violence in Libya Second Libyan Civil War |
The February 17th Martyrs Brigade was a militia to secure law and order in Libya.
In 2015, the brigade consisted of 12 battalions and possessed a large collection of light and heavy weapons in addition to training facilities. Its membership was estimated at between 1,500 and 3,500. [1] [2]
The February 17th Martyrs Brigade was called on for assistance by the US government during the 2012 Benghazi attack. [3] [4] Despite their call, the agency did not count on the help of the militia, which did not report on the advance of the initial mob that attacked the embassy. The militia's main role in the attack was to play the role of the Libyan state during the attack. [5] Some CIA analysts called it "a mistake" to have trusted an irregular militia, (where the security of the American officers was quite poor) which had already stopped patrolling with Western troops, in protest of low pay and long working hours. [5] [6] [7]
17th Feb was also featured in the film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi .
Following the attack, together with the Bou Salim Martyrs brigade, allegedly agreed to disband—however, only 150-200 militiamen moved from Benghazi to Jebel Akhdar. [8]
In 2014, the militia carried out mortar attacks against some neighborhoods in Benghazi. [9] [10] [11] On 17 October, the group claimed a suicide car bombing against a checkpoint of a non-governmental militia in Benghazi, killing four people (in addition to the attacker) and wounding one more. [12] [13]
In 2015, the brigade was considered to be the largest and best armed militia in eastern Libya. It was financed by the Libyan defense ministry. The group continues to carry out "security and law and order" tasks in eastern Libya and Kufra in the south. [1] [4]
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