2016 in Libya

The following lists events that happened during 2016 in Libya.

← 2015 2014 2013 2016 in Libya → 2017 2018 2019
Decades:	1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2016 List of years in Libya

Incumbents

• President of the House of Representatives (Tobruk-based government): Aguila Saleh Issa (since 5 August 2014)
• Prime Minister (Tobruk-based government): Abdullah al-Thani (since 11 March 2014)
• Chairman of the Presidential Council and Prime Minister (Government of National Accord): Fayez al-Sarraj (since 12 March 2016)

Events

January

• 4 January – The Islamic State seized control of Bin Jawad before militants in twelve vehicles attacked the city of Sidra, killing two Petroleum Facilities Guard militants in a suicide bomb attack at a checkpoint.^[1]
• 7 January – At least 65 people were killed when a truck bomb hit a police training center in the Libyan town of Zliten.^[2]

March

• 12 March – Fayez al-Sarraj and members of the UN-backed Presidential Council arrived in Tripoli by sea to establish the Government of National Accord, despite opposition from rival factions.^[3]

May–December: Battle of Sirte

• 12 May – Forces loyal to the GNA launched an offensive against the Islamic State in Sirte.^[4]
• 1 August – The United States launched airstrikes in support of GNA forces fighting Islamic State in Sirte.^[5]
• 6 December – The Libyan Prime Minister announced that Sirte had been liberated from Islamic State after months of fighting.^[6]

September

• 11 September – General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army seized control of key oil ports in the Oil Crescent, including Ras Lanuf, Es Sider, Zueitina, and Brega.^[7]

December

• 23 December – Afriqiyah Airways Flight 209 was hijacked en route from Sebha to Tripoli and diverted to Malta. The hijackers surrendered after all passengers were released unharmed.^[8]

Deaths

• Mohammed Najm, military officer and political figure (date of death unknown)^[9]
• Mokhtar Belmokhtar, Algerian jihadist and militant leader, reported killed in U.S. airstrikes in Libya in June (though unconfirmed).^[10]
• Abdel Rahman al-Qarawi, senior IS commander in Sirte, killed during fighting.^[11]

See also

• 2015 in Libya
• 2017 in Libya
• Timeline of Libyan history
• Libyan Civil War (2014–present)

References

1. "Libyan oil port of Sidra attacked by Islamic State". BBC News. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
2. El-Sahli, Ayman (7 January 2016). "Truck bomb kills nearly 50 at Libyan police academy". Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
3. "Libya unity government arrives in Tripoli". BBC News. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
4. "Libya unity government forces launch offensive against IS in Sirte". The Guardian. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
5. "US launches air strikes on Islamic State in Libya's Sirte". BBC News. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
6. "Libya says city of Sirte liberated from IS". Al Jazeera. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
7. "Libyan forces loyal to Haftar seize key oil ports". Al Jazeera. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
8. "Libyan plane hijack ends peacefully in Malta". The Daily Telegraph. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
9. "Libya's Mohammed Najm dies". Libya Herald. 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
10. "Islamist militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar 'killed in US air strike in Libya'". The Guardian. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
11. "IS commander killed in battle for Sirte". Reuters. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2025.