The name refers the 'Day of Rage' protests on February 17, 2011 against dictator Muammar Gaddafi that were met by harsh military suppression and triggered the Libyan civil war.

In 2015, the brigade consisted of 12 battalions and possessed a large collection of light and heavy weapons in addition to training facilities.

[5] Some CIA analysts called it "a mistake" to have trusted an irregular militia which had already stopped patrolling with Western troops in protest against low pay and long working hours, where the security of the American officers was quite poor.

[5][6][7] Following the attack, together with the Bou Salim Martyrs brigade, allegedly agreed to disband—however, only 150-200 militiamen moved from Benghazi to Jebel Akhdar.

[9][10][11] On 17 October, the group claimed a suicide car bombing against a checkpoint of a non-governmental militia in Benghazi, killing four people (in addition to the attacker) and wounding one more.