UN Resolution 1973

Date: March 17, 2011 • Location: Rome, Italy

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 2011.

First Libyan Civil War: The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1973, authorizing military intervention in Libya to protect civilians.

The Libyan Civil War, also known as the First Libyan Civil War and Libyan Revolution, was an armed conflict fought in 2011 in the North African country of Libya between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and rebel groups attempting to oust his government. The war was ignited by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011 inspired by the Arab Spring, which led to clashes with security forces and armed protesters. The protests escalated into a rebellion spreading across the country, with the forces opposing Gaddafi establishing an interim governing body, the National Transitional Council.