February 15, 2011: Riots break out in Benghazi inspired by Arab Spring revolts in Tunisia and Egypt

February 26, 2011: The U.N. Security Council imposes sanctions on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and his family and calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate the crackdown on rebels.

March 19, 2011: U.S., Britain and France launch U.N.-mandated air attack over Libya to halt advances on civilians by Gadhafi's forces.

March 26, 2011: Rebels capture key city of Ajdabiya.

March 30, 2011: Libyan Foreign Minister, Moussa Koussa, defects and flies to Britain. Other senior officials follow suit.

April 30 , 2011: A NATO missile attack on a house in Tripoli kills Gadhafi's youngest son and three grandchildren.

May 17, 2011: The International Criminal Court prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Gadhafi for crimes against humanity.

June 7, 2011: Gadhafi speaks on state television. He vows to fight to the end and never surrender.

June 27, 2011: The International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Gadhafi, his son Seif al-Islam Gadhafi and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi on charges of crimes against humanity.

July 15, 2011: The United States recognizes the National Transitional Council as the legitimate government of Libya.

July 28, 2011: Former interior minister Abdel Fattah Younes, who defected to the rebels in February and became their military chief, is killed.

August 14, 2011: Rebels claim to have captured the strategic town of Zawiyah, but fighting continues to rage.

August 20, 2011: Rebels launch their first attack on the nation's capital, Tripoli, in coordination with NATO forces.

August 23, 2011: NTC fighters overrun Gadhafi's compound in Tripoli.

October 20, 2011: Gadhafi is captured and dies in custody after NTC fighters take take over his hometown of Sirte.

October 23, 2011: Libya's transitional leaders declare the country liberated.

October 31, 2011: The NTC elects Abdel-Rahim el-Keeb as the country's new interim prime minister. The election takes place just hours before NATO ends its mission in Libya.

November 19, 2011: Libyan military officials announce the capture of Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the fugitive son who had been described as his heir apparent.