Libyan Resistance. Probably nowhere was the African-European confrontation so long and bloody as it was in Libya. In 1911 without warning, Italy invaded the Libyan coastal cities of Tripoli, Benghazi, Homs, and Tubruk. While the Italians captured these cities, they were unable to capture the areas surrounding them. Italy's attempt to conquer and colonize Libya was interrupted by World War I (1914-1918). After the war in a series of brutal military attacks, Italy tried to bring Libya under its control. However, Libyans successfully defended themselves for many years. It was not until 1932, twenty-one years after Italy's first invasions, that Libya was fully colonized.