The Battle of Tripoli (Arabic: ﻣﻌﺮﻛﺔ ﻃﺮﺍﺑﻠﺲmaʻarakat Ṭarābulis), sometimes referred to as the Fall of Tripoli (Arabic: سقوط طرابلسsuqūt Ṭarābulis), was a military confrontation in Tripoli, Libya, between loyalists of Muammar Gaddafi, the longtime leader of Libya, and the National Transitional Council, which was attempting to overthrow Gaddafi and take control of the capital. The battle began on 20 August 2011,[19] six months after the First Libyan Civil War started, with an uprising within the city; rebel forces outside the city planned an offensive to link up with elements within Tripoli, and eventually take control of the nation's capital.
Map showing the situation after the battle within western Libya
Held by Anti-Gaddafi forces.(Checkered: Maximum Loyalists gains, April–May.)
Rebel gains after the western coastal offensive in August.
Last loyalist pockets.
The rebels codenamed the assault "Operation Mermaid Dawn"[19] (Arabic: ﻋﻤﻠﻴﺔ ﻓﺠﺮ ﻋﺮﻭﺳﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺮʻamaliyyat fajr ʻarūsat el-baḥr). Tripoli's nickname is "The Mermaid" (Arabic: ﻋﺮﻭﺳﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺮʻarūsat el-baḥr) (literally "bride of the sea").[20]