A teacher of the
Qur'an by profession, Mukhtar was also skilled in the strategies and tactics of
desert warfare. He knew local geography well and used that knowledge to advantage in battles against the Italians, who were unaccustomed to
desert warfare. Mukhtar repeatedly led his small, highly alert groups in successful attacks against the Italians, after which they would fade back into the desert terrain. Mukhtar’s men skilfully attacked outposts, ambushed troops, and cut lines of supply and communication. The
Regio Esercito (Italian Royal Army) was left astonished by his guerrilla tactics. In the mountainous region of
Jebel Akhdar ("Green Mountain") in 1924, Italian governor
Ernesto Bombelli created a counter-guerrilla force that inflicted a severe setback to guerilla forces in April 1925. Mukhtar then quickly modified his own tactics and was able to count on continued help from
Egypt. In March 1927, despite the occupation of
Giarabub from February 1926 and increasingly stringent rule under Governor
Attilio Teruzzi, Mukhtar surprised Italian troops at
Raheiba. In 1927 and 1928, Mukhtar reorganised the
Senusite forces, who were being hunted constantly by the Italians.
Marshal Pietro Badoglio, Governor of Libya from January 1929, after extensive negotiations, concluded a compromise with Mukhtar (described by the Italians as his complete submission) similar to previous Italo-Senusite accords. At the end of October 1929, Mukhtar denounced the compromise and re-established a unity of action among Libyan forces, preparing himself for the ultimate confrontation with
General Rodolfo Graziani, the Italian military commander from March 1930. A massive offensive in June against Mukhtar's forces having failed, Graziani, in full accord with Badoglio,
Emilio De Bono (Minister of the Colonies), and
Benito Mussolini, initiated a plan to break the Libyan Mujāhideen: the 100,000 people of Jebel Akhdar would be relocated to concentration camps on the coast, and the Libyan-Egyptian border from the coast at Giarabub would be fence-closed, preventing any foreign help to the fighters and depriving them of support from the native population. These measures, which Graziani initiated early in 1931, took their toll on the Senusite resistance. The rebels were deprived of help and reinforcements, spied upon, hit by Italian aircraft, and pursued on the ground by the Italian forces aided by local informers and collaborators. Mukhtar's final adversary, Italian
General Rodolfo Graziani, has given a description of the Senusite leader that is not lacking in respect: "Of medium height, stout, with white hair, beard, and mustache. Omar was endowed with a quick and lively intelligence; was knowledgeable in religious matters, and revealed an energetic and impetuous character, unselfish and uncompromising; ultimately, he remained very religious and poor, even though he had been one of the most important Senusist figures." Mukhtar maintained good relations with the Braasa and Dorsa tribes, who had joined the rebellion, while he reacted with the raiding of animals and intimidation against the tribes who had submitted to the Italians. On November 29, 1927, near Slonta, he attacked a Braasa tribe camp, who also had submitted, invading it with 250 horsemen and also attacking on women and children. == Capture and execution ==