NATO forces

NATO forces have been directly active in a number of modern conflicts, including in Afghanistan and against the military of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in Libya in 2011.

Airwars documented hundreds of allegations of civilian harm from strikes in Libya in 2011, and has undertaken a number of investigations into NATO conduct.

85 incidents involving NATO forces
Archive
NATO forces

Incident Date

20 August 2020

Incident Code

Lib2011-141

Location

Sirte, Surt, Libya
سرت‎
Five or more civilians were allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Sirte. Sirte martyrs posted the victims’ names and said: “These heroes were martyred by the NATO bombing in Sirte on 20 Ramadan of the Nakba year corresponding to 08-20-2011.” Al Gharib Al Ajli wrote: “Meanwhile, 5 NATO missiles collapsed on our house, 5 …

Summary

Published
20 August 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
5 – 24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
NATO forces
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Incident Date

19 March 2019

Incident Code

Lib2011-038

Location

Tripoli, Benghazi, Misurata, Sirte and Al Watyah airbase, Surt, Libya
قاعدة طرابلس وبنغازي ومصراتة وسرت والوطية الجوية
Between 48 and 64 civilians were killed during the first day of NATO airstrikes in Libya, according to Gaddafi regime media. However, these numbers are heavily contested by non-partisan sources. Doualia wrote at the time: “Air strikes on several Libyan cities killed 48 people and wounded 150 in ‘civilian areas,’ a statement on Libyan state …

Summary

Published
19 March 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
48 – 64
Civilians reported injured
150
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
NATO forces
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Incident Date

1 November 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-212

Location

Research Farm, Surt, Libya
مزرعة الأبحاث
One child was allegedly killed and his uncle injured by a NATO airstrike on a research farm near Sirte. Nour Al Din Nasser Al Zanki said: “Abd al-Hadi Hamad Abd al-Rahman Qazwari, the son of an 8-year-old, was struck by a warplane on the research farm and his uncle lost his legs.” NATO did not …

Summary

Published
1 November 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
NATO forces
View Incident
The bombing of Quala 4131
7 Mar, 2024
Investigations, Policy
Afghanistan

The bombing of Quala 4131

Visual retelling of 2007 Dutch bombing in Afghanistan that killed at least 11 civilians, later ruled unlawful by Dutch court
Airwars/Altinget investigation sparks Danish civilian harm review
31 Jan, 2024
Policy
Libya

Airwars/Altinget investigation sparks Danish civilian harm review

Danish Armed Forces ordered to conduct a formal review of the allegations
How we exposed secretive Danish role in Libyan civilian deaths
25 Jan, 2024
Investigations
Libya

How we exposed secretive Danish role in Libyan civilian deaths

A behind-the-scenes look at the investigation that forced an official Danish military review
Annual report – 2022/23
29 May, 2023
Report

Annual report – 2022/23

Our work in 2022-2023
Five takeaways from the first day of EWIPA negotiations
7 Apr, 2022
Policy
Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Palestinian territories, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen

Five takeaways from the first day of EWIPA negotiations

The shadow of the Ukraine conflict loomed large over the first day of the informal UN-backed consultations on a political declaration on restricting the use of wide area effect explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA), currently underway in Geneva. Delegates from more than 65 nations have gathered to fine tune the language of the political …
US Defense Secretary announces major shakeup of Pentagon civilian harm policies
28 Jan, 2022
Policy

US Defense Secretary announces major shakeup of Pentagon civilian harm policies

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has announced major proposals to overhaul how the US military monitors, assesses and documents when its actions kill civilians, a move warily welcomed by human rights and civilian harm mitigation NGOs. Building on years of documentation by groups like the Syrian Network for Human Rights and Airwars, since late 2021 …