In February 2011, anti-government mass protests sprang up against Gaddafi in Benghazi and other towns of Libya, in the context of the wider Arab Spring.On 18 February demonstrators took control of Benghazi, the second largest city of Libya, with some support from police and military units. In reaction the government sent elite troops, which were resisted by Benghazi's inhabitants and mutineering members of the military.In Benghazi, during the course of four separate protests that took place on 20 February, more than 200 people have died.The New York Times reported that "the crackdown in Libya has proven the bloodiest of the recent government actions."
On March 10, 2011 France became the first nation to recognize the National Transition Council of the anti-government rebels as the sole Representative of Libya. An Élysée source also announced that France plans to send an ambassador to Benghazi. Nations who recognize the Council as the government of Libya may not have to go through the process of obtaining UN security council's approval to establish a "No-fly zone" if the Council requests one, as this could count as a "friendly request".On March 17, 2011 the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1973 with a 10–0 vote and five abstentions. The resolution sanctioned the establishment a no-fly zone and the use of "all means necessary" to protect civilians within Libya.
Shortly afterwards, Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa stated that "Libya has decided an immediate ceasefire and an immediate halt to all military operations". However, attacks against insurgent strongholds appear to have continued despite this claim.An effigy of Moammar Gadhafi hangs from a scaffold in Tripoli's Martyrs' Square, Libya. August 29, 2011On March 19, 2011 the first Allied act to secure the no-fly zone began when French military jets entered Libyan airspace on a reconnaissance mission heralding attacks on enemy targets. Allied military action to enforce the ceasefire commenced the same day when a French aircraft opened fire and destroyed a vehicle on the ground. French jets also destroyed five tanks belonging to the Gaddafi regime. The United States and United Kingdom launched attacks on over 20 "integrated air defense systems" using more than 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles during operations Odyssey Dawn and Ellamy.
On June 27, 2011 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Gaddafi, alleging that Gaddafi had been personally involved in planning and implementing "a policy of widespread and systematic attacks against civilians and demonstrators and dissidents".On 1st July 2011. 1,7 million people assembled in Green Square Tripoli to show defiance against the NATO bombings of Libya.By August 22, 2011 rebel fighters had entered Tripoli and taken Martyrs' Square. Meanwhile, Gaddafi asserted that he was still in Libya and would not concede power to the rebels.
On October 20, 2011 NTC forces captured Sirte, and in the process captured, and killed Muammar Gaddafi in Sirte.
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