Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

Lib2011-016

Incident date

February 20–21, 2011

Location

فشلوم و تاجوراء, Fashloum and Tajoura, Tarabulus, Libya

Geolocation

32.864063, 13.275073 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 20th and 21st 2011, Gaddafi forces launched artillery and airstrikes on Tripoli, injuring dozens and killing over 200, according to local claims. Agence France Presse quoted witnesses reporting massacres in the neighbourhoods of Fashalom and Tajoura. Other eyewitnesses reported helicopter bombings in the Souq al-Jumaa area.

A video showed helicopters over the skies of Tripoli, dated the 21st. Other videos showed the injured in Tripoli’s central hospital, dated the 20th. Mercenary forces were reported to be among the actors involved in these strikes in Tripoli, occupying al-Jumhuriya street in Fashalom.

A UN investigation later stated that “doctors informed the Commission that between 20-21 February 2011 over 200 bodies were brought into morgues”.

Adel Mohamad Saleh was quoted in Al-Jazeera as reporting over 250 dead, while the BBC spoke of reports of 150 fatalities in Tripoli.

A Facebook post from the group ‘If the people want their freedom’ stated: “On 21-02-2011, between nine and eleven at night, anti-aircraft shells were flying in the sky, when the Khamis Brigade was hit with anti-aircraft guns in the Fashlum area in Tripoli. These anti-aircraft machine guns had also struck at the dwellings, the doors of the dwellings, and whatever”.

One source stated that over 700 were killed overall, although this number was not reflected by any other sources.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Fashloum (فشلوم) and the town of Tajoura (تاجوراء) within the Tripoli (طرابلس) district. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates of a middle point between these two locations are: 32.864063, 13.275073.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Fashloum (فشلوم) and the town of Tajoura (تاجوراء) within the Tripoli (طرابلس) district.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    150 – 700
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A brief video reported to be showing a helicopter over Tripoli on Feb 20, 2011. From the 17feb2011 Youtube channel.
  • The image shows several cars and armed men standing outside a street, reported the al-Jumhuriya Street, at the intersection of the Fashlum Al-Dhahra neighborhood in Tripoli. Image from the Taha Krewi Facebook page, dated Feb 21, 2011.

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Gaddafi Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    150 – 700
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (20) [ collapse]