High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The First Battle of Benghazi occurred as part of the 2011 Libyan civil war between army units and militiamen loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and anti-Gaddafi forces, with clashes occurring in Benghazi, Bayda and Derna. In Benghazi itself most of the fighting occurred during a siege of the government-controlled Katiba compound.