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After ten weeks of fighting, Graziani's 10th Army had been completely outfought and forced to relinquish most strongholds (Bardia, Tobruk, Derna, etc.). The British Commonwealth and Free French forces had advanced 800 km, destroyed or captured about 400 tanks and 850 or 1,290 artillery pieces, and 100,000 or 130,000 (depending on the source) Italian and Libyan soldiers besides a vast quantity of other war material. Among the Italian captured were 22 generals. The Italian general staff and Graziani in his memoirs acknowledge 960 guns of all types lost and 100,000 captured, including 17,000 Libyan soldiers. The British and Commonwealth forces admit 494 dead, 1,225 wounded and 43 captured or missing.

After ten weeks of fighting, Graziani's 10th Army had been completely outfought and forced to relinquish most strongholds (Bardia, Tobruk, Derna, etc.). The British Commonwealth and Free French forces had advanced 800 km, destroyed or captured about 400 tanks and 850 or 1,290 artillery pieces, and 100,000 or 130,000 (depending on the source) Italian and Libyan soldiers besides a vast quantity of other war material. Among the Italian captured were 22 generals. The Italian general staff and Graziani in his memoirs acknowledge 960 guns of all types lost and 100,000 captured, including 17,000 Libyan soldiers. The British and Commonwealth forces admit 494 dead, 1,225 wounded and 43 captured or missing.

Contrary to expectations the British advance stopped short of capturing Tripoli and completely defeating the Italians in North Africa. As the British Commonwealth vanguards reached El Agheila, Churchill ordered that the offensive be stopped and infantry and armoured units dispatched urgently to defend northern Greece. The Greeks had most of their divisions pinned down in Albania containing Italian counteroffensives and a German invasion was soon expected to materialize through the undermanned Metaxas Line.

Contrary to expectations the British advance stopped short of capturing Tripoli and completely defeating the Italians in North Africa. As the British Commonwealth vanguards reached [[El Agheila]], Churchill ordered that the offensive be stopped and infantry, armoured units and Hurricane fighter squadrons units dispatched urgently to defend northern Greece. The Greeks still had most of their divisions pinned down in Albania containing Italian counteroffensives and a German invasion was soon expected to materialize through the undermanned [[Metaxas Line]].

With the respite, the Italian Supreme Command is soon able to reinforce Italian strongholds in Libya. Among the Italian reinforcements were the 17th ''Pavia'' Infantry Division, the 25th ''Bologna'' Infantry Division and the 102nd ''Trento'' Motorised Division, making available about 150,000 men for the defence of Italian Libya. Also, on 10 January 1941, the British aircraft-carrier HMS ''Illustrious'' was disabled in a dive-bomber attack by German and Italian Stukas (with the Italians equipped with heavy bombs) and bombs from 96° Gruppo (under captain Ercolano Ercolani) hit the aft-lift, forcing the British carrier to limp back to Malta for repairs, allowing the German Afrika Korps (under General Erwin Rommel) to begin arriving in Tripoli (Operation ''Sonnenblume'') without losses.  

With the respite, the Italian Supreme Command is soon able to reinforce Italian strongholds in Libya. Among the Italian reinforcements were the 17th ''Pavia'' Infantry Division, the 25th ''Bologna'' Infantry Division and the 102nd ''Trento'' Motorised Division, making available about 150,000 men for the defence of Italian Libya. Also, on 10 January 1941, the British aircraft-carrier HMS ''Illustrious'' was disabled in a dive-bomber attack by German and Italian Stukas (with the Italians equipped with heavy bombs) and bombs from 96° Gruppo (under captain Ercolano Ercolani) hit the aft-lift, forcing the British carrier to limp back to Malta for repairs, allowing the German Afrika Korps (under General Erwin Rommel) to begin arriving in Tripoli (Operation ''Sonnenblume'') without losses.