Khamis Brigade
Encyclopedia
The Khamis Brigade, formally the 32nd Reinforced Brigade of the Armed People, was a special forces
brigade
of the Libyan military
loyal to Muammar Gaddafi
, the de-facto leader of Libya since 1969. Commanded by Gaddafi's youngest son, Khamis Gaddafi until his death on 29 August 2011, the 32nd Brigade was called "the most well-trained and well-equipped force in the Libyan military" and "the most important military and security elements of the regime" in leaked U.S. memos.
, Bayda and several other cities that were centres of anti-government protests on 19 February 2011 in the company of militias, possibly including foreign mercenaries. Al Arabiya
, citing sources in Benghazi, reported that Khamis Gaddafi had recruited French-speaking mercenaries from sub-Saharan Africa.
On 24 February, armored units commanded by Khamis Gaddafi were reported to be moving toward Misrata, Libya's third-largest city and a major port, said to be in the hands of rebels with heavy weapons. Meanwhile, multi-national mercenaries commanded by the group killed scores and injured dozens in Zawiya, a city symbolic for its resistance to Italian colonization. Local witnesses and speeches by Gaddafi described a chaotic situation with people in civilian clothes fighting one another in the streets. According to former justice minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil
, Khamis Gaddafi and two of his brothers were stationed in security centers to the east, west, and south of Tripoli.
The Aruba School in the rebel held coastal town of Shahhat
became the prison for almost 200 suspected mercenaries of the Gaddafi regime from countries such as Niger and Chad. They were reported to be part of Libya's "Khamees' battalion".
On 27 February, residents reported heavy fighting
around the Khamis Brigade's headquarters complex in Misrata. An air force school within the complex had been besieged by protesters with light weapons. Despite possessing heavier weaponry, those within had run out of food and water, and a commander surrendered himself for trial. Another report stated that officers at the air force school had mutinied and the adjacent air force base had been overwhelmed.
On 18 April, the headquarters of the Khamis Brigade near Tripoli was bombed and destroyed by NATO planes that took part in the 2011 military intervention in Libya
. According to NATO sources, the headquarters had been used to coordinate and lead attacks on civilians.
On 21 August, the Khamis Brigade headquarters 26 kilometres (16.2 mi) west of Tripoli was overrun by rebel forces as they made a major push towards the capital, allowing rebels to capture large stores of weapons.
At this date, the Khamis Brigade were reported to have killed 17 prisoners in a makeshift prison near Gragur in Tripoli. On 23 August 2011, the Khamis Brigade killed around 50 prisoners in a Tripoli warehouse and then set fire to the warehouse.
On 29 August, Khamis Gaddafi was reported dead, death confirmed by the former regime on mid-September. On 9 September, the NTC health minister said that the Khamis Brigade had lost around 9,000 soldiers during the war. It is unknown who may have commanded remnants of the Khamis Brigade in the closing days of the 2011 Libyan civil war.
An unnamed official from Libya's National Transitional Council has disclosed that Khamis Gaddafi, fifth son of slain Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, is still alive. According to IB Times the information came directly from captured Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who confessed to interrogators that his younger brother was not only alive, but gave away his whereabouts.
According to the NTC official, Khamis has been located in Terhouna, 90 km southeast of Tripoli, the Hindustan Times reported.
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
of the Libyan military
Military of Libya
The Libyan Armed Forces constituted the state defence organisation of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya before they were destroyed, and are being replaced by a new national army. A Major General, Suleiman Mahmoud al-Obeidi, was named interim chief of staff of the rebellion's armed forces in mid July...
loyal to Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
, the de-facto leader of Libya since 1969. Commanded by Gaddafi's youngest son, Khamis Gaddafi until his death on 29 August 2011, the 32nd Brigade was called "the most well-trained and well-equipped force in the Libyan military" and "the most important military and security elements of the regime" in leaked U.S. memos.
Role in 2011 uprising and civil war
The Khamis Brigade was described as the most elite of three "regime protection units" which together comprise 10,000 men. According to U.S. and European officials, these units are the only forces directly loyal to Gaddafi, whereas regular army units made up of conscripts were subject to widespread desertion. It engaged anti-government forces and was reported by eyewitnesses to be moving into BenghaziBenghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
, Bayda and several other cities that were centres of anti-government protests on 19 February 2011 in the company of militias, possibly including foreign mercenaries. Al Arabiya
Al Arabiya
Al Arabiya is a Pan-Arabist Saudi-owned Arabic-language television news channel. Launched on March 3, 2003, the channel is based in Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, and is majority-owned by the Saudi broadcaster Middle East Broadcasting Center ....
, citing sources in Benghazi, reported that Khamis Gaddafi had recruited French-speaking mercenaries from sub-Saharan Africa.
On 24 February, armored units commanded by Khamis Gaddafi were reported to be moving toward Misrata, Libya's third-largest city and a major port, said to be in the hands of rebels with heavy weapons. Meanwhile, multi-national mercenaries commanded by the group killed scores and injured dozens in Zawiya, a city symbolic for its resistance to Italian colonization. Local witnesses and speeches by Gaddafi described a chaotic situation with people in civilian clothes fighting one another in the streets. According to former justice minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil
Mustafa Abdul Jalil
Mustafa Abdul Jalil or Abdul-Jalil is the Chairman of the National Transitional Council of Libya, and as such serves as head of state in Libya's caretaker government which was formed as a result of the 2011 Libyan civil war. He is also a spokesman for the city of Bayda...
, Khamis Gaddafi and two of his brothers were stationed in security centers to the east, west, and south of Tripoli.
The Aruba School in the rebel held coastal town of Shahhat
Shahhat
Shahhat is a town in the District of Jabal al Akhdar in north-eastern Libya. Cyrene was located in the same area in ancient times. It is located east of Bayda....
became the prison for almost 200 suspected mercenaries of the Gaddafi regime from countries such as Niger and Chad. They were reported to be part of Libya's "Khamees' battalion".
On 27 February, residents reported heavy fighting
Battle of Misrata
The Battle of Misrata was a battle of the 2011 Libyan civil war between pro-Gaddafi loyalists and anti-Gaddafi forces, which held Misrata, the third largest city in Libya...
around the Khamis Brigade's headquarters complex in Misrata. An air force school within the complex had been besieged by protesters with light weapons. Despite possessing heavier weaponry, those within had run out of food and water, and a commander surrendered himself for trial. Another report stated that officers at the air force school had mutinied and the adjacent air force base had been overwhelmed.
On 18 April, the headquarters of the Khamis Brigade near Tripoli was bombed and destroyed by NATO planes that took part in the 2011 military intervention in Libya
2011 military intervention in Libya
On 19 March 2011, a multi-state coalition began a military intervention in Libya to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which was taken in response to events during the 2011 Libyan civil war...
. According to NATO sources, the headquarters had been used to coordinate and lead attacks on civilians.
On 21 August, the Khamis Brigade headquarters 26 kilometres (16.2 mi) west of Tripoli was overrun by rebel forces as they made a major push towards the capital, allowing rebels to capture large stores of weapons.
At this date, the Khamis Brigade were reported to have killed 17 prisoners in a makeshift prison near Gragur in Tripoli. On 23 August 2011, the Khamis Brigade killed around 50 prisoners in a Tripoli warehouse and then set fire to the warehouse.
On 29 August, Khamis Gaddafi was reported dead, death confirmed by the former regime on mid-September. On 9 September, the NTC health minister said that the Khamis Brigade had lost around 9,000 soldiers during the war. It is unknown who may have commanded remnants of the Khamis Brigade in the closing days of the 2011 Libyan civil war.
November 2011
According to a Libyan NTC official, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has revealed under interrogation that his younger brother Khamis is still alive. He has apparently disclosed the whereabouts of Khamis in Libya.An unnamed official from Libya's National Transitional Council has disclosed that Khamis Gaddafi, fifth son of slain Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, is still alive. According to IB Times the information came directly from captured Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who confessed to interrogators that his younger brother was not only alive, but gave away his whereabouts.
According to the NTC official, Khamis has been located in Terhouna, 90 km southeast of Tripoli, the Hindustan Times reported.
External links
- Khamis Army Shoots One In The Head", vspahi, 2011-02-18 (YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
) - "Wounded Soldier of Khamis (Gadhafi's Son) LIBYA", MeddiTV, 2011-02-18 (YouTube)