The events regarding the military intervention on 19 March can be tracked in the related articles: Timeline of the 2011 Libyan Civil War before military intervention Timeline of the 2011 Libyan Civil War and military intervention (19 March–May) Timeline of the 2011 Libyan Civil War and military intervention (June–15 August)

The Libyan Civil War began on 17 February 2011 as a civil protest and later evolved into a widespread uprising. By mid-August, anti-Gaddafi forces effectively supported by a NATO-led international coalition were ascendant in Tripolitania, breaking out of the restive Nafusa Mountains in the south to mount an offensive toward the coast and advancing from Misrata on loyalist-held cities and villages from the north and east.

This period of the war was its endgame, with Muammar Gaddafi's defensive perimeter around Greater Tripoli collapsing and his government ultimately being routed from Tripoli. A number of members of the Gaddafi government were arrested or killed in action, including Gaddafi's youngest son Khamis, and a string of its last outposts teetered and eventually fell under the assault of the (effectively) NATO-backed revolutionaries. By the end of September, the National Transitional Council had won recognition from the United Nations, the Arab League, and the African Union as the legitimate governing authority of Libya, asserting control over the vast majority of the country.

As the war entered its momentous final days, the last remaining stronghold of government loyalists was the city of Sirte, which Gaddafi declared to be the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya's new capital after the fall of Tripoli. On 20 October, NTC forces that had been arrayed around the ever-shrinking positions occupied by loyalist holdouts made a decisive push and took control of the city, capturing Gaddafi as he attempted to flee. Gaddafi, who had been seriously wounded prior to his arrest, died in custody less than an hour later.

Mid-August (16–20 August) 16 August UN envoy Abdul Ilah Khatib met with representatives of both Gaddafi's government and the NTC before leaving Tunisia, but said he did not take part in any direct negotiations between the factions. Spokespersons for both the Gaddafi government and the NTC denied face-to-face meetings between the two opposing governments. Laub, Karin (16 August 2011). "UN Envoy Meets with Both Sides of Libyan Conflict" . Associated Press (via The Kansas City Star). Retrieved 16 August 2011. As NTC forces encircled Tripoli, effectively cutting it off,Georgy, Michael (15 August 2011). "Rebels Encircle Tripoli as Gadhafi Remains Defiant". Reuters (via The Gazette). Retrieved 18 August 2011. an anonymous Russian diplomat stated that Russia was "deeply disturbed" by the NATO campaign, referring to "the destruction of infrastructure and especially power supplies on territory controlled by the government.Staff (16 August 2011). "Libya Live Blog: Tuesday, 16 August 2011 – 15:26" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 September 2011. In a joint statement, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez went further, denouncing "imperialist aggression" (in both Syria and Libya).Staff (17 August 2011). Libya Live Blog: Tuesday, 16 August 2011 – 22:19" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 September 2011. Gaddafi government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim declared that pro-Gaddafi loyalists had retaken Misrata, a claim reported by the Xinhua News Agency, and the Morning Star. The statement was contradicted by continued reports of continued rebel possession of the city, further pacified due to the capture of Tawergha. According to the Associated Press, Gaddafi loyalists still held some thirty percent of Zawiya, using a local hospital as a base and forcing doctors to perform around-the-clock surgeries while snipers were perched on the roof and an anti-aircraft gunner was placed at the entrance; civilian patients and occupants were forced out of most quarters by loyalists in order to make way for wounded soldiers and mercenaries.

17 August According to Xinhua News Agency, Gaddafi spokesman Moussa Ibrahim claimed that Zawiya and Brega was under full control of the Gaddafi loyalists, denying rebel, NATO and mainstream media reports to the contrary. Libyan rebels were in control of seventy percent of Zawiya and had also reached the outskirts of Al-Heisha, they claimed. On the eastern front, rebels said that they had suffered fifteen casualties fighting for Brega. A rebel spokesman in the Nafusa Mountains said loyalist forces had abandoned Tiji and Badr and anti-Gaddafi forces had entered both towns. Asharq Al-Awsat reported – citing unnamed Libyan sources in Tripoli and Benghazi, Western diplomatic sources in Cairo, Tripoli and Tunis, and vaguely described "Arab sources" – that Gaddafi was suffering from an "incurable illness" and was attempting to negotiate a voluntary exile for himself and his family in South Africa under the protection of South African President Jacob Zuma. The newspaper claimed Gaddafi's chief of staff, Bashir Saleh, had been dispatched to Djerba, Tunisia, and then to Bamako, Mali, to meet with British and French officials about the possibility of Gaddafi being allowed to leave Libya without facing arrest or trial. The report quoted unidentified sources within the NTC as saying, "We do not want the battle to liberate the capital Tripoli to become a massacre, therefore if the price is for [Gaddafi] to leave power safely, then we are prepared to pay this." On Twitter, veteran Guardian correspondent Brian Whitaker expressed scepticism toward the report, calling it "poorly sourced" and suggesting it may be "disinformation". Sabratha was reportedly captured by rebels, according to Xinhua News Agency, with the rebel brigade accepting the surrender of fifteen Gaddafi loyalists. This occurred after NATO bombed the Sabratha army barracks occupied by loyalists. Barada TV correspondent Malik al-Abdeh reported that rebels in Sabratha, Sorman and Zawiya formed a joint command to advance on the capital, headquartered from the villa of Khweldi Hameidi. According to Al Jazeera, the Associated Press reported that rebels had cut off the oil pipeline between Zawiya and Tripoli.Staff (18 August 2011). "Libya Live Blog: Wednesday, 17 August 2011 – 12:39. Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 September 2011. Fighting continued between rebels and loyalists, 100 of the latter being holed up in the refinery which is the source of the pipeline. Radio France Internationale reported that eight Chadian nationals, seven alleged mercenaries and one purported "recruiter", were arrested in the Chadian village of Massakory while attempting to cross the border into Libya via Niger in order to fight as mercenaries for Gaddafi. The state prosecutor alleged that the recruiter was offered "a hypothetical promise of FCFA 4 million (€6,100) for each one who crossed the border." This was part of an investigation by Chadian authorities into a suspected underground pipeline for mercenaries between Chad and Libya. Toubou tribal fighters reportedly captured Murzuk, a town in southwest Libya.Staff (20 August 2011). "Libya: Toubou Rebels Engage in Battle Against Gaddafi" . Ennahar Online. Retrieved 22 August 2011.

18 August Reuters reported that the Zawiya oil refinery had been captured by rebel forces. Elsewhere, rebels claimed to have captured Haysha, halfway between Misrata and Sirte. Reuters reported that rebels had taken the center of Gharyan, a town south of Tripoli. Rebels claimed they had secured at least ninety percent of the coastal city of Sabratha, and had captured the loyalist military base there.Staff (18 August 2011). "Libyan Freedom Fighters Say Secure Another Western Coastal City" . Reuters (via Shabab Libya). Retrieved 19 August 2011. A spokesman for the NTC said the southern Brega suburb of Alargop was entirely in rebel hands.

19 August Zliten was taken by rebel forces, who claimed they pushed beyond the western edge of the city to the outskirts of Khoms.Staff (19 August 2011). "Libya Live Blog: Friday, 19 August 2011 – 12:39 . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 September 2011. The centre of Zawiya, Martyrs Square, was taken by rebel forces after a fierce battle.Crawford, Alex (19 August 2011). "Libya: Rebels Take Martyr Square in Zawiyah" . Sky News. Retrieved 19 August 2011. Reuters reported that Abdessalam Jalloud, a former Libyan Prime Minister from 1972 to 1977, defected to rebel-held Zintan.Valdmanis, Richard (19 August 2011)."Update 1–Gaddafi's Former No. 2 Defects – Libya Rebels" . Reuters. Retrieved 19 August 2011. The Associated Press reported that rebels claimed that Brega was now completely under rebel control.Staff (20 August 2011). "Libyan Rebels: Eastern Oil Terminal Brega Taken". Associated Press (via The Guardian). Retrieved 20 August 2011.Staff (20 August 2011). "Libya Rebels Close In on Gadhafi – 'We Have Liberated Brega and All of It Is Under Our Control'" . MSNBC. Retrieved 20 August 2011. The Libyan embassy in Brasília, Brazil was stormed by protesters supporting the Libyan rebels. The Flag of Libya was torn down and replaced with the National Transitional Council flag. During the protest, there was a reported brawl between protesters and embassy officials.Staff (20 August 2011). "Clashes at Libyan Embassy in Brazil" . FOCUS News Agency. Retrieved 20 August 2011.

20 August The Tunisian Army fought a battle with a group of "unknown Libyans" using armed trucks near Douz, a town in central Tunisia. The Libyans fled after the battle.Staff (20 August 2011). "Uzbrojona kolumna wdarła się do Tunezji" (in Polish). TVN24. Retrieved 20 August 2011. Rebel forces captured the centre of Brega after much fighting.Staff (20 August 2011). "Libyan Rebels 'Take Control' of Central Brega – Rebels Claim Centre of the Eastern Oil Town, Amid Conflicting Reports as to Whether They Control Its Oil Facilities". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 20 August 2011. Rebel forces captured Zawiya and reached 'Aziziya.Staff (20 August 2011). "Libyan Rebels Begin Attack on Tripoli" . Associated Press (via CBC News). Retrieved 20 August 2011.Armellini, Alvise; El-Sherif, Nehal; Walters, Anne (17 August 2011). "Libyan Rebels Closing In on Capital of Tripoli, NATO Says" . McClatchy-Tribune News Service (via The Denver Post). Retrieved 20 August 2011. According to witnesses rebel supporters clashed with pro-Gaddafi security forces in Tripoli amid sustained explosions and gunfire.Staff (20 August 2011). "Blasts, Sustained Gunfire in Tripoli – Reuters Witness" . Reuters. Retrieved 20 August 2011. Late on 20 August, rebels inside Tripoli began a general uprising against GaddafiStaff (20 August 2011). "Libya Conflict: Heavy Gunfire Erupts in Tripoli" . BBC News. Retrieved 22 August 2011. after a speech by Mahmoud Jibril.Staff (21 August 2011). "Libya Live Blog: Saturday, 20 August 2011 – 22:08" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 August 2011.

Battle of Tripoli (21–31 August) 21 August

Local rebels launched an assault on the Mitiga International Airport (late on 20/early on 21 August), east of Tripoli's city centre, amidst rumors that Gaddafi had fled. From Zawiya, rebel units began a push toward TripoliStaff (20 August 2011). "Libya Live Blog: Saturday, 20 August 2011 – 22:17" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 August 2011. from the eastern gate of Zawiya. Fighting was being reported east of Zawiya, particularly in an area known as the 27 km Bridge (east of the town of Al Maya). On 20 August, the Associated Press reported that Tunisia had recognised the NTC as "the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people". Celebrations broke out in Benghazi in response to the conflicts in and around Tripoli.Staff (20 August 2011). "Libya Live Blog: Saturday, 20 August 2011 – 22:32" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 August 2011. Rebels were forced to retreat from Al Maya after coming under "very heavy incoming fire" from Loyalist artillery.