Ghardabiya Air Base

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Ghardabiya Air Base
Gardabya Airport
Ghardabiya Airfield - Damaged Aircraft Shelters - Operation Odyssey Dawn.jpg
United States Department of Defense reconnaissance photo of hangars at Ghardabiya
IATA: SRX [1]ICAO: HLGD
Summary
Airport type Military/Public
Owner Libya
Location Sirte
Elevation AMSL 266 ft / 81 m
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Map
Ghardabiya Air Base is located in Libya
Ghardabiya Air Base
Ghardabiya Air Base
Location in Libya
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
31/13 11,807 3,600 Asphalt
18/36 11,807 3,600 Asphalt

Ghardabiya Air Base is a dual-function airbase for the Libyan Air Force south of the city of Sirte.[2] It also incorporates an airport for civilian use.[3] It is currently controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Military use

It is the home base of 1124 Bomber Squadron and 1st Fighter-Bomber Squadron which operate the Su-22 aircraft.[4] The base also operates the Aero L-39 Albatross for counterinsurgency missions.

Civilian use

Due to the 2011 Libyan civil war all flights were suspended however since the end of the conflict Libyan Airlines have resumed service, it is currently unknown if Air Libya Tibesti is using the airport.

Airlines Destinations
Air Libya Tibesti Tripoli
Libyan Airlines Tripoli
Tunisair Tunis[5]

2011 Libyan civil war

It was targeted by United States Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers equipped with precision-guided munitions (PGMs) during the 2011 Libyan civil war on 20 and 21 March 2011.[6] The United States Navy also participated in the attack to deny the Libyan Air Force operational capability with the use of Tomahawk cruise missiles.[7][8]

In May 2015, Islamic State Militants reportedly took control of the airport, after seizing control of nearby Sirte only weeks before.[9]

References

Google Map aerial view

External links