Earlier this week, Die Welt published a piece by Alfred Hackensberger, "Islamists are worse than Assad", which included an interview with a Libyan, identified as Alah al-Fakhri, detailing his experiences as a foreign fighter in Syria. The article translates rather well from German to English, and details the fighters time with Ansar al-Allah, which he claims was part of Jabhat al-Nusra, and how he reached Syria with the help of Ansar al-Sharia in Libya. Alfred Hackensberger has sent me parts of the interview with the fighter which didn't make it to the Die Welt article, which provides additional information on the fighters experience. The text has been translated from Arabic to German, then German to English.
Question: You went to Syria to fight. Why does a Libyan go to another country to fight?
Answer: This is the solidarity of a Muslim who aids his beleaguered brethren. I wanted to help the Syrian people to obtain their freedom. I wanted to fight alongside the Free Syrian Army, but that did not work out. I ended up with Jihadists.
Q: How did that happen ?
A : I tried to make contacts and a friend had sent me to Ansar al-Sharia. However, I did not who I was fighting with until I arrived in Syria. And it was not the FSA.
Q: With whom then?
A: With a group called Ansar al-Allah, who fought under the umbrella Jabhat al-Nusra.
Q: Were there more foreigners in the group?
A: Yes, most of them were foreigners. They came from Bulgaria, Afghanistan, Egypt, Somalia.
Q: What was standing Ansar al-Allah among the rebels ?
A: They had a bad image. "How can you fight with these people," I had often heard. "They are dangerous and kill people by dozen" .
Q: Have you even seen atrocities?
A: No, I have only heard of it.
Q: How did you come to Syria?
A: We entered the country via Turkey. Some via Istanbul, the others via Ankara. The coordination was in Antakya, also for all other foreign fighters. There, everything was organized, including our trip by bus across the border. They sent a bus with women and children, so we came disguised as a family across the border. The bus went back back and forth.
Q: And the Turkish?
A: There was no military. It was like a normal crossing, people going in and out but without control. The Turkish could have caught us before. But obviously they had no interest.
Q: Where were you been fighting?
A: In the east of Aleppo in the countryside and also at the airport. Exactly, I can not say that. As I drove back home, I was told : Share no information or names, or we kill you! You have to take these people seriously.
Q: Why did you return to Libya after only a month?
A: It was not what I wanted. They fight for a caliphate in all Arab states. They just want the power to be able to enforce their interests. They do not fight for the Syrian people. I wanted the Syrians only help, want a state, which brings democracy and Islam together. So I 'm a non-believer for them. All who disagree are infidels.
Q: Was the group you were with very strict?
A: Music, radio, television and smoking, which was very hard for me as a smoker, was forbidden . Discussions did not exist. If you had just a bit of a different opinion, made you suspicious. You could be seen as a Kuffer, an unbeliever and end up dead. (He puts his hand from one side to the other side of his throat). I do not want to live and fight in such a repressive atmosphere, and to risk my life in the war in this kind of situation. I tell you, Bashar al-Assad is not as bad as these people! They are far more dangerous!
Q: Because they slaughter people?
A: Because they do unbelievable things!
Q: What would they do?
A: I don't want to talk about it.
Q: Why did not you go to the other Libyan Liwa fighting in Idlib?
A: I did not know them and had no contacts. As far as I know, they take the route through Egypt to Syria.
Q: What did normal Syrians, ordinary people, say to you as Libyan fighter in their home country ?
A: In Aleppo I barely came into contact with ordinary civilians. But when leaving I met some. They were very aggressive towards me. “What, do you have want here in Syria? Go back home!” Honestly, this was something I had not imagined! I thought we were welcome to help them. But it seemed to be the opposite!
Q: Does Ansar al- Sharia let go so easily ?
A: Yes, that was relatively easy. I said I want to fight longer, but for that I first had to go home to fix this with my family. They knew that I came to see and check out the situation first, before stay. They did not know that I would not come back. All others with whom I set off remained. I just got this warning from the leaders to keep my mouth shot.
Q: Was there anybody else thinking like you?
A: There was only one guy, who had similar problems. He came with my group to Syria. But he stayed. Maybe there were a couple of others, but we couldn't talk freely what was on our mind.
Q: Are you planning to go again to Syria?
A: Not now! At this point I am more worried about Libya than about Syria. But if I would go again, I would certainly fight only with FSA.
Showing posts with label Libya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Libya. Show all posts
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Friday, 15 November 2013
Photographs Of Rocket Propelled Grenade Remains Recovered At Today's Protest In Tripoli, Libya
Thanks to Victor Breiner who sent me the following photographs he took at anti-militia protests held in Tripoli, Libya, today, where it's been reported large number of protesters were killed and injured when one of the militias they were protesting against fired on the crowd
This is the fin assembly from the rear of a projectile used by launchers such as the RPG-7, which can be seen in the below reference image
This photographic evidence appears to support the claim that the protesters were attacked with rocket propelled grenades, along with other weapons.
If anyone has any more images of the remains of munitions recovered from the scene of the attack then feel free to send them to me at the below contact details.
Sunday, 10 February 2013
French Rocket Pods Sighted In Syria
In early January I wrote about French SNEB 68mm rockets that had been shown on Syrian State TV and filmed being used with various DIY launchers. As I pointed out, these types of rockets had a history of being used in the Libyan conflict, and were part of a shipment of arms from Libya destined for Syria stopped by the Lebanese authorities.
Now we have this video that takes things one step further
What we have here is a French MATRA rocket pod, designed to fire 68mm SNEB rockets, with this photograph from AFP appearing to show another example of the same type of rocket pod. Examples of this same type of rocket pod mounted on vehicles in Libya can be seen here, and here in a very informative post about the SNEB rockets in Libya.
As with the SNEB 68mm rockets I wrote about earlier the rocket pods also showed up on the Lutfallah 2 cargo ship that was stopped by Lebanese authorities (source)
The Syrian air force does have a small number of French SA-342 Gazelle helicopters, but as yet the opposition has not overrun any of the locations where these are based, nor has their been footage of these types of rocket launchers being captured by the opposition, so it leaves open the possibility that these are part of one of the rumoured cargoes from Libya that made it into opposition hands.
Related Articles
How to Build an Army in Your Basement - Even More DIY Weapons
Are Assad's Forces Using IEDs In Syria?
Unexploded Bombs Used In A Truck Bomb By Jabhat al-Nusra
Clear Evidence Of DIY Barrel Bombs Being Used By The Syrian Air Force
Unexploded Cluster Bomblets Repurposed As DIY Rocket Warheads
The DIY Weapons Of The Syrian Opposition
Improving Syrian Oppositon Armaments Demonstrated During The Taftanaz Airbase Attack
Clear Evidence Of DIY Barrel Bombs Being Used By The Syrian Air Force
You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com
Now we have this video that takes things one step further
What we have here is a French MATRA rocket pod, designed to fire 68mm SNEB rockets, with this photograph from AFP appearing to show another example of the same type of rocket pod. Examples of this same type of rocket pod mounted on vehicles in Libya can be seen here, and here in a very informative post about the SNEB rockets in Libya.
As with the SNEB 68mm rockets I wrote about earlier the rocket pods also showed up on the Lutfallah 2 cargo ship that was stopped by Lebanese authorities (source)
The Syrian air force does have a small number of French SA-342 Gazelle helicopters, but as yet the opposition has not overrun any of the locations where these are based, nor has their been footage of these types of rocket launchers being captured by the opposition, so it leaves open the possibility that these are part of one of the rumoured cargoes from Libya that made it into opposition hands.
Related Articles
How to Build an Army in Your Basement - Even More DIY Weapons
Are Assad's Forces Using IEDs In Syria?
Unexploded Bombs Used In A Truck Bomb By Jabhat al-Nusra
Clear Evidence Of DIY Barrel Bombs Being Used By The Syrian Air Force
Unexploded Cluster Bomblets Repurposed As DIY Rocket Warheads
The DIY Weapons Of The Syrian Opposition
Improving Syrian Oppositon Armaments Demonstrated During The Taftanaz Airbase Attack
Clear Evidence Of DIY Barrel Bombs Being Used By The Syrian Air Force
You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com
Saturday, 5 January 2013
French Rockets Used By The Syrian Opposition
Today I've been pointed to this collection of photographs showing a DIY rocket launching system reportedly seized by the Syrian Army from the Syria opposition in Kafersoosseh. What's interesting about this rocket launcher is the ammunition it uses, pictured below
The rocket, also featured in this Syrian State TV report, is a French made 68mm SNEB rocket, usually fired from rocket pods attached to a variety of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, but not the Russia/Soviet aircraft generally used by the Syrian Air Force.
This therefore begs the question of the possible source for these rockets. There have been other recent sightings of these weapons, including this video and this video, and as far as I'm aware there's been no earlier sightings before November 2012, which might imply these are something they've acquired recently. The Syrian Air Force does have French made SA-342 Gazelle helicopters so there's a chance they might have acquired these rockets during there recent advances across the country, but there's been no video evidence of that being the case. These rockets are used quite widely in the region so the black-market is another possibility, and I'd assume (maybe wrongly) if a regional power was going to send arms to Syria they'd send something that didn't require the construction of a DIY weapons systems to launch it inaccurately at the enemy.
One other possible source is Libya. In the first half of 2012 a shipment of arms from Libya allegedly destined for Syria on the Lutfallah 2 cargo ship was intercepted by the Lebanese Army, and this blog has a series of photographs taken of the cargo. Among the wide variety of munitions there's crates containing the same type of 68mm rockets pictured above
With rumours and reports of other cargo vessels bringing weapons to Syria from Libya it seems that this could be another possible source of the rockets.
Thanks to Nic R. Jenzen-Jones and Mark Hiznay for additional information.
Related Articles
How to Build an Army in Your Basement - Even More DIY Weapons
Are Assad's Forces Using IEDs In Syria?
Unexploded Bombs Used In A Truck Bomb By Jabhat al-Nusra
Clear Evidence Of DIY Barrel Bombs Being Used By The Syrian Air Force
Unexploded Cluster Bomblets Repurposed As DIY Rocket Warheads
The DIY Weapons Of The Syrian Opposition
Improving Syrian Oppositon Armaments Demonstrated During The Taftanaz Airbase Attack
Clear Evidence Of DIY Barrel Bombs Being Used By The Syrian Air Force
You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com
The rocket, also featured in this Syrian State TV report, is a French made 68mm SNEB rocket, usually fired from rocket pods attached to a variety of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, but not the Russia/Soviet aircraft generally used by the Syrian Air Force.
This therefore begs the question of the possible source for these rockets. There have been other recent sightings of these weapons, including this video and this video, and as far as I'm aware there's been no earlier sightings before November 2012, which might imply these are something they've acquired recently. The Syrian Air Force does have French made SA-342 Gazelle helicopters so there's a chance they might have acquired these rockets during there recent advances across the country, but there's been no video evidence of that being the case. These rockets are used quite widely in the region so the black-market is another possibility, and I'd assume (maybe wrongly) if a regional power was going to send arms to Syria they'd send something that didn't require the construction of a DIY weapons systems to launch it inaccurately at the enemy.
One other possible source is Libya. In the first half of 2012 a shipment of arms from Libya allegedly destined for Syria on the Lutfallah 2 cargo ship was intercepted by the Lebanese Army, and this blog has a series of photographs taken of the cargo. Among the wide variety of munitions there's crates containing the same type of 68mm rockets pictured above
With rumours and reports of other cargo vessels bringing weapons to Syria from Libya it seems that this could be another possible source of the rockets.
Thanks to Nic R. Jenzen-Jones and Mark Hiznay for additional information.
Related Articles
How to Build an Army in Your Basement - Even More DIY Weapons
Are Assad's Forces Using IEDs In Syria?
Unexploded Bombs Used In A Truck Bomb By Jabhat al-Nusra
Clear Evidence Of DIY Barrel Bombs Being Used By The Syrian Air Force
Unexploded Cluster Bomblets Repurposed As DIY Rocket Warheads
The DIY Weapons Of The Syrian Opposition
Improving Syrian Oppositon Armaments Demonstrated During The Taftanaz Airbase Attack
Clear Evidence Of DIY Barrel Bombs Being Used By The Syrian Air Force
You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com
Saturday, 25 August 2012
Images Of Shrines And Mosques Destroyed By Extremists In Libya
There's be a number of reports today of Islamic extremists destroying shrines and graves in Zliten and Tripoli, as well as demolishing a mosque in Tripoli with bulldozers. A number of images from these events have now been posted on Twitter by @Thanku4theAnger and @david_bachmann_. These first pair of images are from @david_bachmann_ and show the mosque before and after the demolition took place
These images are from @Thanku4theAnger
@Thanku4theAnger described the following about events at Sidi Shaab
It's now been reported that the Minister for Interior and Minister for Defence have both been sacked as the result of the above incidents, although it's also been reported that members of the National Congress are denying those reports.
Update August 25th Thanks to a number of regular readers who have sent me a number of videos and images from Zliten, especially @menshevik and Michael Pugliese. This video shows the Sheikh Abdul Salam Al Asmar mosque and shrine at the moment it was attacked by Salafists in Zliten on Friday
A photo of the aftermath was posted on this Facebook group for Libyan Salafists
@menshevik also highlighted this Reuters article from May about a previously aborted attack on the location.
ChangeInLibya has also just Tweeted details of a TV appearance by interim Libyan President Dr. Mohamed Almagariaf
I was also pointed in the direction of a Tweet by LibyaLiberty relating to a photograph posted here which points to possible collusion with the Ministry of Interior
Al Jazeera English also has a good round up of events.
Update August 26th Some additional links.
Video of a GNC member arguing with the Salafists at the mosque in Tripoli
Naziha Arebi's Tumblr with images of the destruction of the mosque
This image from @libyanproud showing Thuwar who are based at the Radisson Hotel across from the mosque
This image from @ablajounaidi supposedly showing desecrated graves of saints
This image of the mosque in Tripoli being destroyed from @HA_FGM
This image of the mosque destruction from @2011feb17
You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com
 | ||
| Mosque in front of |
 |
| ...same mosque today 6PM |
 |
| First arrived to find Turkish era graves near Sidi Shaab broken into & desecrated |
 |
| Another photo of Turkish era graves desecrated near Sidi Shaab in Tripoli |
 |
| At Sidi Shaab Salafis are celebrating demolition of graves & others like man in cap arguing against this crime |
 |
| Photo of Sidi Shaab demolition in Tripoli.There were 2 bulldozers. |
 |
| Another photo of demolition of Sidi Shaab by the extremist Govt forces SSC & Anti crime unit in Tripoli |
 | |
| Many Salafis were at demolition of Sidi Shaab in Tripoli admiring the tragedy. |
Just got back from Sidi Shaab in Tripoli and will upload photos the tragedy and say what happened. I am so angry.
Tripoli council Head tried to stop demolitn of Sidi Shaab to no avail. Man from Banun family who protested demolition was beaten up
Elderly man at Sidi Shaab said we changed a despot to get a despot. A Salafi was unhappy at comment. So I had heated argument with him.
The Salafi lied & said they had sanction to destroy these graves with MAJ's approval. I had to walk away or I would've punched him
It's now been reported that the Minister for Interior and Minister for Defence have both been sacked as the result of the above incidents, although it's also been reported that members of the National Congress are denying those reports.
Update August 25th Thanks to a number of regular readers who have sent me a number of videos and images from Zliten, especially @menshevik and Michael Pugliese. This video shows the Sheikh Abdul Salam Al Asmar mosque and shrine at the moment it was attacked by Salafists in Zliten on Friday
A photo of the aftermath was posted on this Facebook group for Libyan Salafists
ChangeInLibya has also just Tweeted details of a TV appearance by interim Libyan President Dr. Mohamed Almagariaf
GNC @Almagariaf: Who took part in the disgraceful acts of the last two days are unfortunately aligned with SSC and some ex-fighters #LibyaUpdate August 26th Damian Spleeters sent me a selection of pictures from Tripoli
GNC @Almagariaf: The people that perpetrated recent acts of desecration are criminals and will be pursued #Libya
GNC @Almagariaf: Those of us in the GNC ask government and security forces to take all necessary measures to stop acts by outlaws #Libya
GNC @Almagariaf: The GNC calls on Army (Chief of staff) to take up its responsibility of defending #Libya and protecting our heritage #Libya
GNC @Almagariaf: GNC will not hesitate to make the necessary decisions. We will question PM, MoD, MoI tomorrow morning & act accordingly
GNC @Almagariaf: We ask all Libyans to be vigilant, calm, peaceful and to work within their community to protect #Libya and its history
GNC @Almagariaf: We ask Libyans not to follow rumours and instigations by some channels and those who do not put #Libya first and foremost
I was also pointed in the direction of a Tweet by LibyaLiberty relating to a photograph posted here which points to possible collusion with the Ministry of Interior
 |
| What's up w/this alleged member of MOI who oversaw demolition,seeming to be a part of it? http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151169209775783&set=p.10151169209775783&type=1&ref=nf … via najah dawaji |
Update August 26th Some additional links.
Video of a GNC member arguing with the Salafists at the mosque in Tripoli
Naziha Arebi's Tumblr with images of the destruction of the mosque
This image from @libyanproud showing Thuwar who are based at the Radisson Hotel across from the mosque
 |
| they sat and watched or sealed it for them pic.twitter.com/FMGLsqec |
 |
 |
| صورة لجامع الشعاب اثناء الهدم pic.twitter.com/tjDLYPKk |
 |
| This is ridiculous!!! Sha3ab mosque is being demolished too!!! Been to the Friday prayers many times there in the 80s! pic.twitter.com/LJQhZJ5T |
You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Kevin Dawes Part One - Arrival
Kevin Dawes, from San Diego, California travelled to Libya in June 2011 as a photojournalist, and almost immediately became involved with assisting rebel medics on the Dafniyah-Misrata frontline, and eventually ended up fighting alongside the rebels in Sirte, where his time in Libya came to a sudden and violent end. He filmed much of what he experienced in Libya, and has uploaded around 300 of those videos onto his Youtube Channel.
The following map details some of the locations visited by Kevin Dawes in Libya, along with videos filmed in the area:
View videos and locations visited by Kevin Dawes in a larger map
What were your initial motivations and aims for your visit to Libya? Was there anything or anyone in particular who inspired you to make the journey?
It turns out that Malta was a much shorter and cheaper route. I could have spent 10% or less of what I ultimate did. It pays to know people who don't hate you (ahem) and are willing to pass on travel tips. I get the impression that the first time is the only expensive one.
The drive from Cairo to the border was very long. I was accompanied by one Egyptian police officer and one Egyptian police official. When we arrived at Sallem there were few people crossing from Libya but an almost infinite stream of brand new Hiluxes flowing in, all loaded with fighters and weapons in covered beds. The police officer looked very dismayed and the police official had the most incredible look of smug. I wish I knew what was going on there.
After Sallem I changed drivers and was driven to Benghazi. We stopped in Tobruk on the way there for bread and cheese. There were many checkpoints manned by bored looking fighters and parts of the drive reminded me of photos that I had seen of Afghanistan. Beautiful, lush, grass-carpeted valleys separated by tall rippling stony crests of semi-vegetated desert. It was beautiful, yet foreboding, country. The hulks of burnt out armored vehicles could be seen here and there on the side of the road.
Finally, I arrived at the Alnoran Hotel in Benghazi and discovered the ridiculous prices they were charging. To this point I had been chasing rumors of a free hotel for journalists. There was one- it was just in Misrata. I was in Benghazi for several days before finally arranging passage to Misrata. Much like a fallout game this involved speaking to the other journalists and denizens of the Alnoran hotel and completing various side quests. Benghazi was full of random blasts and gunfire. Also, panicky evacuations from the military base next door.
The first side quest involved getting a cellular telephone SIM card for the rebel cell network. My first attempt resulted in me borrowing and then inadvertently stealing one from some guy due to a breakdown in communications. I apologized after he called me and demanded to know what the fuck I was doing and we tried it again. This second attempt resulted in a successful SIM card purchase. Remember, I had not learnt any Arabic yet at this point on my trip.
Through these same guys I managed to meet a local guide who apparently owned an Egyptian brand money pump of his own. He showed me Benghazi and I learnt about the battles there. He eventually helped me secure my court permissions to travel to Misrata.
One of the guys there was obviously some kind of gangster. He kept trying to get me to leave the hotel with him to see 'his studio'. I'm pretty sure he wanted to mug me. There were a few other journalists there from various outlets that I never saw again after leaving for Misrata with the exception of one fellow that I met from the New York Times who I ran into again at Kubre Estada where he interviewed me about why I had a rifle and was sitting at a guard post processing refugees.
This is a very common theme for my trip. The first encounter and then the distant second encounter. It happened with doctors I met, seeing them in June as harried medical students pressed into service and then again in October as fire breathing thuwar. It happened with security guys (kids, really, we cooked together sometimes) I knew at the Gostik who I later encountered in Sirte. It even happened with a set of three pairs of Hexarmor cut gloves I brought with me and left at the Gostik. I was there in Sirte and suddenly this column of four kids snaked past me and they were all wearing those gloves. One 'pair' was only two left gloves and wouldn't you know it some of them only had the left glove. It happened with the people I was on the Jaraffa (fishing boat) from Benghazi to Misrata on when they began to show up wounded at the field hospital.
The second appearance is where you suck your breath in.
Theoretically the other journalists sailed there as well- just on a much bigger boat than I did. An older fellow with a bald head whose name I don't recall- I remember his accent being britaustralish and faint, indicated that they were travelling on one of the missile cruisers. The Times guy was very helpful in explaining how to get started (solicit everybody, etc.) as well as the mechanics behind passage to Misrata.
There was also a Japanese guy there who had a panic attack and literally fled the hotel. I managed to stop him from running screaming into the night and he took the time to interview me. I was trying to reassure him that he'd be fine. It ended with me giving him a tour of my medic bag. I have no idea what happened to this footage. I'm wearing a bathrobe (Boondock Saints style) in it.
There were also some guys I'm pretty confident were NTC spies there to check up on us and make sure we weren't Qaddafi terrorists. I ran into one of them again later in Misrata. All he did was drive next to me very slowly trying to get me to get into his truck. I ignored him for a block or so (oh god oh god oh god) until he finally just said: 'HEY! HEY! WE'RE COOL! LOOK! WE ARE COOL!' before flashing the peace sign and driving off. After that I had no real problems in Libya. Interpret these events however you'd like. It could be a coincidence.
I finished some missing parts of my medic bag here- trading for supplies with Sonia at the Benghazi hospital. I also had the captain of the boat I got passage on see her when his diabetes seemed 'blinding' bad. He was in rough shape but he made the voyage. He let me use his cabin to store my things and I had access to the wheelhouse. I spent a lot of time sitting there in the dark while we crossed the Gulf of Sirte listening to NATO's 'kill you all' broadcast on infinite repeat. The vessel itself had twin towed guns on the stern and a load of ammo in the hold. We were so low in the water that we almost sank during a storm and so full of bombs that if the boat caught fire there was no possible way that we could have swum far enough away to avoid getting blast decapitated in the water.
It was very tense. Sitting there in that pitch dark wheelhouse lit only by red light and tracking a GPS heading in absurd seas while listening to a radio warning about how vessels like ours qualified as 'targets for destruction'- that was a little Nick Danger, yeah. It certainly felt that way. Well, it turns out that this is actually a pretty typical experience for a journalist in areas like these. The scary part was whenever the radio would fuzz out in a loud blast of static. You can hear it on the radio set whenever a search or targeting radar paints the boat.
I did handle the wheel during a particularly rough part of the storm because the wheelman (wheelkid, actually) had his arms get tired. The key to steering a ship like that is slow, long-thinking corrections. Don't try to chase the sea. You'll spin in a circle.
I met a lot of amazing people on this boat. It's true what they say. Facing a common danger binds men together. Even long after our trip we would greet each other very warmly. The stars at night were amazing. We fished a little and saw a JSTARS aircraft turning slow orbits over the gulf of Sirte. We also had two Typhoons buzz our vessel.
I started two IVs on that boat. Three if you count the practice IV I ran in on myself while we were waiting around in Benghazi. Both for dehydration, though after evaluating the guys they didn't seem all that dehydrated. The part that made it fun was that I had to do it below decks in pitching seas while a NATO frigate investigated us and was presumably deciding if we were a target for destruction. One took two sticks and he got a moderate hematoma from the first which subsided. Deeper veins than I had thought for a skinny fellow. The other I got in one. A liter of saline a piece later and they were right as rain or at least thought they were. Since they were adults and healthy I figured that they could take their bolus and that I should probably humor them. They were bedridden. I was going by saliva production and skin plasticity.
I was badly alarmed by the appearance of the frigate and the fact that the captain was totally ignoring them on the radio as they demanded we identify ourselves. The towed guns were under tarps, but it was only about as effective as a thin white cotton t-shirt on a well endowed women after it has been drenched with water. That and how low we were in the water. Fish aren't that heavy. Nobody else seemed alarmed. All the captain said to us was: 'French frigate!' The meaning of this statement would only become clear later once it was revealed that the French were supplying arms to the rebels.
The frigate circled us once and then left. After this we steamed the remaining 25 miles (I believe it was a 25 mile picket line) into Misrata.
Can you describe the situation in Misrata when you first arrived?
Where there other foreigners in the city aside from journalists that you noticed when you first arrived?
No, not immediately. Those guys fell out of the woodwork later.
Was there a certain part of Misrata you were staying in?
Yeah, the Gos El Teek (Gostik) hotel. I still have the card in my wallet. It's near the center of the city.
You've mentioned bringing body armour and medical supplies with you, could you tell me what else you brought with you?
Beyond the body armor and medical supplies? Clothing, bug spray, a water filter, multivitamins, sleeping bag and accompanying kit. My multi-tool, which was invaluable, my flashlight, map, paracord, a gas mask, and a GPS that was useless for most of June because of the jamming. I also used my iPhone as a back up camera, that footage is kind of interesting. I also had a ton of malarone with me in case of malaria. Also Zithromax, which I ended up using to treat an upper respiratory infection. I had to do this twice during the trip. Zithromax was highly effective both times. The second time I had to source it locally.
I actually was massively over equipped and spent most of my time reducing my equipment.
Can you tell me how you researched what equipment you would need in Libya?
I asked people who had done it or similar things before. I had a lot of friends in the military, for example, so they were able to give me some idea as to what to expect and what sorts of problems I would face. The key to doing something like this successfully is intricate planning and careful preparation. Little things like getting vaccinations to somewhat larger things like making sure you are in good enough shape to meet the physical demands.
I also did a lot of research specific to the country of Libya. Climate, insects, and so on. Classical Arabic did not work in Libya so all of this turned out to be useless. I had to learn Libyan. By ear.
It happened to be housed at that part of the front. Dr. Tameem and I stopped by while we were driving around. It was well known to other journalists but we were the only ones allowed in.
So once you arrived in Misrata and found a place to stay, what did you do next?
After I arrived I began looking for ways to get to the front line. I first asked the other journalists if I could accompany them as they went out. This resulted in a hearty round of corporate-clean 'Fuck you kid'-s as they breezed out of the door. It turns out (I was eventually let in on this) that everybody got everywhere by hitchhiking with random Libyans in front of the hotel. I soon adopted this practice after confirming that it wasn't a bad joke designed to get me killed. Misrata is not Benghazi and wartime is not peacetime.
I eventually met a man who agreed to drive me to the front. He took me as far as Dafniyah and no further as he said it was too dangerous. He dropped me off close to the aid station where I met the head of the Misrata hospital (al Hecma) to whom I presented a whole lot of medical supplies. This is when I met Dr. Tameem. He had me stick him a few times in front of other doctors to both IV qualify me and demonstrate the new equipment I had brought. The most valuable items were the chest seals and chest needles.
The supplies I had brought wouldn't last long but they did do a little good. The actual front line was not far away at about 10 kilometers. We were within easy bombardment range. The 10 km mark was defined as the line of Qaddafi's forces. There was a very large no-man's land that began about 300 meters from the aid station.
After that, everything is captured pretty well in the video series. This would be June 8 and onward. My weapons identification is horrendous at this stage as is my Arabic. Both get better.
I eventually get conscripted and decide to hang around as a medical assistant. This was also filmed.
Tomorrow Kevin Dawes describes his experiences with the medical staff on the Dafniyah-Misrata frontline.
You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com Previously posted on my Libya Voices blog.
The following map details some of the locations visited by Kevin Dawes in Libya, along with videos filmed in the area:
View videos and locations visited by Kevin Dawes in a larger map
What were your initial motivations and aims for your visit to Libya? Was there anything or anyone in particular who inspired you to make the journey?
I wanted to try something different. Believe it, or not, Robert King. A lot of people will probably give me a lot of flak for this but you have to remember that he filmed his growing up period.
How did you get from San Diego to Misrata?
Expedia to Cairo, Egypt where my plan was to locate and hire a fixer. This was an expensive and involved process. I eventually found a tour guide who only coughed up a driver into Libya after putting me through all kinds of ridiculous tourist shit. I got sunburn and spent way too much money in Egypt greasing that guy, greasing the right people to get my armor out of hoc, etc. It was pretty terrible.How did you get from San Diego to Misrata?
It turns out that Malta was a much shorter and cheaper route. I could have spent 10% or less of what I ultimate did. It pays to know people who don't hate you (ahem) and are willing to pass on travel tips. I get the impression that the first time is the only expensive one.
The drive from Cairo to the border was very long. I was accompanied by one Egyptian police officer and one Egyptian police official. When we arrived at Sallem there were few people crossing from Libya but an almost infinite stream of brand new Hiluxes flowing in, all loaded with fighters and weapons in covered beds. The police officer looked very dismayed and the police official had the most incredible look of smug. I wish I knew what was going on there.
After Sallem I changed drivers and was driven to Benghazi. We stopped in Tobruk on the way there for bread and cheese. There were many checkpoints manned by bored looking fighters and parts of the drive reminded me of photos that I had seen of Afghanistan. Beautiful, lush, grass-carpeted valleys separated by tall rippling stony crests of semi-vegetated desert. It was beautiful, yet foreboding, country. The hulks of burnt out armored vehicles could be seen here and there on the side of the road.
Finally, I arrived at the Alnoran Hotel in Benghazi and discovered the ridiculous prices they were charging. To this point I had been chasing rumors of a free hotel for journalists. There was one- it was just in Misrata. I was in Benghazi for several days before finally arranging passage to Misrata. Much like a fallout game this involved speaking to the other journalists and denizens of the Alnoran hotel and completing various side quests. Benghazi was full of random blasts and gunfire. Also, panicky evacuations from the military base next door.
The first side quest involved getting a cellular telephone SIM card for the rebel cell network. My first attempt resulted in me borrowing and then inadvertently stealing one from some guy due to a breakdown in communications. I apologized after he called me and demanded to know what the fuck I was doing and we tried it again. This second attempt resulted in a successful SIM card purchase. Remember, I had not learnt any Arabic yet at this point on my trip.
Through these same guys I managed to meet a local guide who apparently owned an Egyptian brand money pump of his own. He showed me Benghazi and I learnt about the battles there. He eventually helped me secure my court permissions to travel to Misrata.
One of the guys there was obviously some kind of gangster. He kept trying to get me to leave the hotel with him to see 'his studio'. I'm pretty sure he wanted to mug me. There were a few other journalists there from various outlets that I never saw again after leaving for Misrata with the exception of one fellow that I met from the New York Times who I ran into again at Kubre Estada where he interviewed me about why I had a rifle and was sitting at a guard post processing refugees.
This is a very common theme for my trip. The first encounter and then the distant second encounter. It happened with doctors I met, seeing them in June as harried medical students pressed into service and then again in October as fire breathing thuwar. It happened with security guys (kids, really, we cooked together sometimes) I knew at the Gostik who I later encountered in Sirte. It even happened with a set of three pairs of Hexarmor cut gloves I brought with me and left at the Gostik. I was there in Sirte and suddenly this column of four kids snaked past me and they were all wearing those gloves. One 'pair' was only two left gloves and wouldn't you know it some of them only had the left glove. It happened with the people I was on the Jaraffa (fishing boat) from Benghazi to Misrata on when they began to show up wounded at the field hospital.
The second appearance is where you suck your breath in.
Theoretically the other journalists sailed there as well- just on a much bigger boat than I did. An older fellow with a bald head whose name I don't recall- I remember his accent being britaustralish and faint, indicated that they were travelling on one of the missile cruisers. The Times guy was very helpful in explaining how to get started (solicit everybody, etc.) as well as the mechanics behind passage to Misrata.
There was also a Japanese guy there who had a panic attack and literally fled the hotel. I managed to stop him from running screaming into the night and he took the time to interview me. I was trying to reassure him that he'd be fine. It ended with me giving him a tour of my medic bag. I have no idea what happened to this footage. I'm wearing a bathrobe (Boondock Saints style) in it.
There were also some guys I'm pretty confident were NTC spies there to check up on us and make sure we weren't Qaddafi terrorists. I ran into one of them again later in Misrata. All he did was drive next to me very slowly trying to get me to get into his truck. I ignored him for a block or so (oh god oh god oh god) until he finally just said: 'HEY! HEY! WE'RE COOL! LOOK! WE ARE COOL!' before flashing the peace sign and driving off. After that I had no real problems in Libya. Interpret these events however you'd like. It could be a coincidence.
I finished some missing parts of my medic bag here- trading for supplies with Sonia at the Benghazi hospital. I also had the captain of the boat I got passage on see her when his diabetes seemed 'blinding' bad. He was in rough shape but he made the voyage. He let me use his cabin to store my things and I had access to the wheelhouse. I spent a lot of time sitting there in the dark while we crossed the Gulf of Sirte listening to NATO's 'kill you all' broadcast on infinite repeat. The vessel itself had twin towed guns on the stern and a load of ammo in the hold. We were so low in the water that we almost sank during a storm and so full of bombs that if the boat caught fire there was no possible way that we could have swum far enough away to avoid getting blast decapitated in the water.
It was very tense. Sitting there in that pitch dark wheelhouse lit only by red light and tracking a GPS heading in absurd seas while listening to a radio warning about how vessels like ours qualified as 'targets for destruction'- that was a little Nick Danger, yeah. It certainly felt that way. Well, it turns out that this is actually a pretty typical experience for a journalist in areas like these. The scary part was whenever the radio would fuzz out in a loud blast of static. You can hear it on the radio set whenever a search or targeting radar paints the boat.
I did handle the wheel during a particularly rough part of the storm because the wheelman (wheelkid, actually) had his arms get tired. The key to steering a ship like that is slow, long-thinking corrections. Don't try to chase the sea. You'll spin in a circle.
I met a lot of amazing people on this boat. It's true what they say. Facing a common danger binds men together. Even long after our trip we would greet each other very warmly. The stars at night were amazing. We fished a little and saw a JSTARS aircraft turning slow orbits over the gulf of Sirte. We also had two Typhoons buzz our vessel.
I started two IVs on that boat. Three if you count the practice IV I ran in on myself while we were waiting around in Benghazi. Both for dehydration, though after evaluating the guys they didn't seem all that dehydrated. The part that made it fun was that I had to do it below decks in pitching seas while a NATO frigate investigated us and was presumably deciding if we were a target for destruction. One took two sticks and he got a moderate hematoma from the first which subsided. Deeper veins than I had thought for a skinny fellow. The other I got in one. A liter of saline a piece later and they were right as rain or at least thought they were. Since they were adults and healthy I figured that they could take their bolus and that I should probably humor them. They were bedridden. I was going by saliva production and skin plasticity.
I was badly alarmed by the appearance of the frigate and the fact that the captain was totally ignoring them on the radio as they demanded we identify ourselves. The towed guns were under tarps, but it was only about as effective as a thin white cotton t-shirt on a well endowed women after it has been drenched with water. That and how low we were in the water. Fish aren't that heavy. Nobody else seemed alarmed. All the captain said to us was: 'French frigate!' The meaning of this statement would only become clear later once it was revealed that the French were supplying arms to the rebels.
The frigate circled us once and then left. After this we steamed the remaining 25 miles (I believe it was a 25 mile picket line) into Misrata.
Can you describe the situation in Misrata when you first arrived?
The whole place seemed completely empty. We were expecting to land under heavy shellfire and the harbor had already taken several hits. Luckily it was clear when we landed. I made my way to the hotel (the free one) settled in, and made friends with the journalists there. I met some very interesting people including one I only know as 'The Ghost' because of his sunken eyes, lack of speech, and ability to only show you gruesome combat footage on his tiny camera in the same way that the guy from Red Dragon showed off his tattoos.
The front line was the city limits. It was a desperate situation. Food was very scarce. Do you remember the story about the journalists becoming trapped in the Rixos Hotel as the war began to come to an end?
They complained about the food in the story. The food they complain about in that story was the best available food we had at the Gostik. I often found myself combining two mostly-eaten cans of tuna, some crackers, and maybe the jam residue from a jar people had given up hope on into a meal. Your stomach is acidic. Your immune system is strong. Mold means safe. Eat or die. While it is true the hotel did very generously provide food for a time this dried up before long. With no functioning banks and a budget that had been sucked nearly dry by horrible fixer experiences which I will *never repeat* I was stuck.
I had made some friends in the city and between these guys and my own geek-like determination to stay fed I came through this part just fine. The Libyans were, and are, the most generous people on the face of the earth. I even had the owner of a burger establishment give me a discounted sandwich. Everybody gets one, he said, by sternly holding up one finger. I never managed to pay him back before leaving the second time around.
When you first arrived in Misrata what did you do?
I took the best shower of my entire life. It was ice cold but I did not care. I was laughing and happier than I had ever been in my entire life.The front line was the city limits. It was a desperate situation. Food was very scarce. Do you remember the story about the journalists becoming trapped in the Rixos Hotel as the war began to come to an end?
They complained about the food in the story. The food they complain about in that story was the best available food we had at the Gostik. I often found myself combining two mostly-eaten cans of tuna, some crackers, and maybe the jam residue from a jar people had given up hope on into a meal. Your stomach is acidic. Your immune system is strong. Mold means safe. Eat or die. While it is true the hotel did very generously provide food for a time this dried up before long. With no functioning banks and a budget that had been sucked nearly dry by horrible fixer experiences which I will *never repeat* I was stuck.
I had made some friends in the city and between these guys and my own geek-like determination to stay fed I came through this part just fine. The Libyans were, and are, the most generous people on the face of the earth. I even had the owner of a burger establishment give me a discounted sandwich. Everybody gets one, he said, by sternly holding up one finger. I never managed to pay him back before leaving the second time around.
When you first arrived in Misrata what did you do?
Where there other foreigners in the city aside from journalists that you noticed when you first arrived?
No, not immediately. Those guys fell out of the woodwork later.
 |
| Inside the Gostik Hotel |
Was there a certain part of Misrata you were staying in?
Yeah, the Gos El Teek (Gostik) hotel. I still have the card in my wallet. It's near the center of the city.
You've mentioned bringing body armour and medical supplies with you, could you tell me what else you brought with you?
Beyond the body armor and medical supplies? Clothing, bug spray, a water filter, multivitamins, sleeping bag and accompanying kit. My multi-tool, which was invaluable, my flashlight, map, paracord, a gas mask, and a GPS that was useless for most of June because of the jamming. I also used my iPhone as a back up camera, that footage is kind of interesting. I also had a ton of malarone with me in case of malaria. Also Zithromax, which I ended up using to treat an upper respiratory infection. I had to do this twice during the trip. Zithromax was highly effective both times. The second time I had to source it locally.
I actually was massively over equipped and spent most of my time reducing my equipment.
Can you tell me how you researched what equipment you would need in Libya?
I asked people who had done it or similar things before. I had a lot of friends in the military, for example, so they were able to give me some idea as to what to expect and what sorts of problems I would face. The key to doing something like this successfully is intricate planning and careful preparation. Little things like getting vaccinations to somewhat larger things like making sure you are in good enough shape to meet the physical demands.
I also did a lot of research specific to the country of Libya. Climate, insects, and so on. Classical Arabic did not work in Libya so all of this turned out to be useless. I had to learn Libyan. By ear.
Diary entry June 9th
Best day of my damn life. A random Libyan donated 200 dinars to me on the street for no reason.
I caught a ride to the front (Daphniya - an aid station) and then to the real front from first a random "Libyan" then a genuine one.
The genuine one was a doctor I met at the aid station. He was the one who drove Tim Hetherington back while he was dying.
I have him most of my medical supplies. I hope he uses them well.
We demonstrated my flash IV caths to the docs at the field hospital (not the med station) and they went home. Tomorrow (today as I am writing this entry late) we will go to the media centre and arrange for a shipment of supplies (including IO drivers from chinook medical through malta.
The choice item is a portable vent, also AED's.
The rebels also have a killdozer, which they showed me. I met the designer and got inside.
Very awesome
You've filmed footage in June of the armoured vehicle constructed by the rebels in Misrata that was later deployed towards the end of the fighting in Sirte, popularly described as the "Libyan Killdozer". Could you tell us how you came across it?
So once you arrived in Misrata and found a place to stay, what did you do next?
After I arrived I began looking for ways to get to the front line. I first asked the other journalists if I could accompany them as they went out. This resulted in a hearty round of corporate-clean 'Fuck you kid'-s as they breezed out of the door. It turns out (I was eventually let in on this) that everybody got everywhere by hitchhiking with random Libyans in front of the hotel. I soon adopted this practice after confirming that it wasn't a bad joke designed to get me killed. Misrata is not Benghazi and wartime is not peacetime.
I eventually met a man who agreed to drive me to the front. He took me as far as Dafniyah and no further as he said it was too dangerous. He dropped me off close to the aid station where I met the head of the Misrata hospital (al Hecma) to whom I presented a whole lot of medical supplies. This is when I met Dr. Tameem. He had me stick him a few times in front of other doctors to both IV qualify me and demonstrate the new equipment I had brought. The most valuable items were the chest seals and chest needles.
The supplies I had brought wouldn't last long but they did do a little good. The actual front line was not far away at about 10 kilometers. We were within easy bombardment range. The 10 km mark was defined as the line of Qaddafi's forces. There was a very large no-man's land that began about 300 meters from the aid station.
After that, everything is captured pretty well in the video series. This would be June 8 and onward. My weapons identification is horrendous at this stage as is my Arabic. Both get better.
I eventually get conscripted and decide to hang around as a medical assistant. This was also filmed.
Tomorrow Kevin Dawes describes his experiences with the medical staff on the Dafniyah-Misrata frontline.
You can contact the author on Twitter @brown_moses or by email at brownmoses@gmail.com Previously posted on my Libya Voices blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)