Mustafa Bin Dardef

Mustafa Bin Dardef
مصطفى بن دردف
Personal details
Born Benghazi, Libya
Died 18 October 2011
Sirte, Libya
Religion Islam
Military service
Allegiance  Libya National Transitional Council
Service/branch National Liberation Army
Years of service 2011
Rank Field commander
Commands Sirte
Battles/wars Libyan Civil War
* Battle of Sirte
* Second Battle of Benghazi

Mustafa Bin Dardef (Arabic:مصطفى بن دردف) was a popular field commander from the Zintan brigade of the Anti-Gaddafi forces during the Libyan Civil War. He was killed by a mortar round just two days before the fall of Sirte and death of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.[1]

Life

Bin Dardef was a businessman in the Mediterranean city of Benghazi before he joined the uprising, importing medical equipment and children's toys, and was twice jailed under the Gaddafi regime for his alleged Islamist leanings. He commanded the Fakhri Alsalabi unit, named after a pilot killed in mid-March, and fought in the second battle of Benghazi.[1] He left behind a son and four daughters.[2]

He was active in the battle of Sirte, being the commander who announced the capture of Sirte's port on 26 September[3] and speaking to news crews discussing the latest advances.[4] He also annnouced the reports that Moussa Ibrahim had been captured in September,[5] although this would later prove untrue.[6] Ibrahim was again reported captured when Sirte fell,[7] however, this was again proven to be untrue. On 22 October 2011, he was again reportedly captured for a third time, along with Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, near Bani Walid.[8]

Death

Bin Dardef died when a mortar round slammed into a vehicle packed with ammunition. A piece of metal tore into his bullet-proof vest while another ripped his throat, killing him almost instantly. He was buried in Benghazi's Martyrs' Cemetery, along with other fighters who had died in Sirte.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bar, Herve (21 October 2011). "Commander 'Bufa' lost in Sirte battle". Modern Ghana. Benghazi. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  2. ↑ "Street fighting rocks Sirte as Clinton visits Tripoli". Ahram Online. Agence France-Presse. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Deshmukh, Jay (26 September 2011). "Anti-Kadhafi fighters capture hometown port". Google News. Sirte. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  4. ↑ "Advance on Gaddafi hometown delayed for want of ammunition". Ahram Online. Agence France-Presse. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "Hunt on for Gadaffi's son as key aide held". The Gulf Daily News. Sirte. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Nikolas, Katerina (1 October 2011). "NTC commander admits did not capture Moussa Ibrahim". Digital Journal. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  7. ↑ Hemming, Jon (20 October 2011). "Gaddafi spokesman Moussa Ibrahim captured --NTC". Reuters Africa. Sirte. Reuters. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  8. ↑ Libya's NTC claim Saif al-Islam Gaddafi captured alive, uninjured
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