Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

LC101

Incident date

January 19, 2019

Location

قصر بن غشير, Qasr Bin Gashir, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.688716, 13.173889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The journalist Mohamed Ben Khalifa was reportedly killed in indiscriminate artillery shelling while covering militia clashes in the south of Tripoli.

Reuters reported that “Mohamed Ben Khalifa died of a random shell in the Libyan capital while covering the clashes.”

Al Jazeera added: “Ben Khalifa died while accompanying a militia patrolling the Qaser Bin Ghashir area south of Tripoli, according to Hamza Turkia, a freelance journalist.”

Ben Khalifa’s death sparked widespread attention on social media with plenty of other Libyan and international sources reporting on the incident.

Local reports of the clashes point at GNA-affiliated militias or the 7th Brigade as the perpetrator of the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohamed Ben Khalifa
Adult male Journalist killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Protests following the killing
  • Picture of the victim
  • Another picture of the victim (via Ebadi el-Mas)
  • Another picture of the victim (via Ebadi al-Mas)
  • Picture from the funeral (via Ebadi el-Mas)
  • Another picture from the funeral (via Ebadi el-Mas)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Qasr Bin Gashir (قصر بن غشير), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.688716, 13.173889. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC100a

Incident date

January 16, 2019

Location

قصر بن غشير, Qasr Bin Gashir, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.688716, 13.173889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Mahmoud Shalbik, a 23-year-old university student from Tripoli, was reportedly killed during armed clashes in the Libyan capital.

While most sources reported he was killed by stray bullet, UNSMIL said the “student at the University of Tripoli, Faculty of Economics, was killed at his home as result of incriminate shelling.”

Abdulrahman Ghummied stated on Twitter: “The young man “Mahmoud Shalbik” died because of a stray bullet and his friends survived driving to his house next to the bridge of Ben Ghashir.”

Local reports point at GNA-affiliated militia or the 7th Brigade as potential perpetrators of the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Shalbik
23 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the victim
  • Picture of a demonstration for the victim
  • Another picture of the demonstration for the victim
  • Another picture of the demonstration for the victim
  • Another picture of the demonstration for the victim

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Qasr Bin Gashir (قصر بن غشير), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.688716 13.173889. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC100

Incident date

January 16, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli: Airport area, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.692666, 13.143217 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The death of Mahmud Al Temzini was reported as a result from renewed militia shelling in the south of Tripoli.

Abu Salim Media reported: “A shell fell on a farm near Tripoli airport and led to the death of the civilian Mahmud al-Tamziti.”

Libya Now mentioned he was the father of three children.

Haithem H O Hellash and Libya Alhader said it was, in fact, a tank shell.

The Tripoli Wounded Affairs Administration reported a total of two civilian deaths and two injuries from the clashes. These numbers can, however, include casualties from gunfights. Three combatants were reported killed and 36 reportedly injured.

Local reports indicate that GNA-affiliated militias or the rival 7th Brigade are responsible for the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmud Al Temzini
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the incident
  • Statistics from the clashes

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Tripoli Airport (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.692666, 13.143217. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC098

Incident date

November 14, 2018

Location

طريق يربط السواني بقصر بن جشير, Road connecting Al Swani and Qasr Bin Gashir, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.697466, 13.126259 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported injured as a result of indiscriminate artillery shelling in Qasr bin Ghashir south of Tripoli.

A single source, United Libyan, posted on Facebook that “citizen Abdul Basit Bouziane was injured by shrapnel as a result of indiscriminate missiles near Jiha road between the Suwani and the palace.”

Azzawiyah News 24 published a carbon copy of the post.

The source did not name the culprit of the attack. According to local media, clashes between the 7th Brigade and GNA-affiliated militias occurred on that day south of Tripoli.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Via United Libyan injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of the man allegedly injured by shrapnel

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the road connecting the towns of Al Swani (السواني) and Qasr Bin Gashir (قصر بن غشير), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.697466, 13.126259. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the road connecting the towns of Al Swani (السواني) and Qasr Bin Gashir (قصر بن غشير).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ069

Incident date

October 1, 2018

Location

طرابلس‎: مطار معيتيقة, Tripoli: Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.895041, 13.2785 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various local sources reported artillery shelling on Tripoli Mitiga Airport leading to a temporary suspension of flights.

218 TV said: “The international airport of Mitiga announced the suspension of its flights until further notice, due to the repeated exposure to indiscriminate missiles by unknown parties who haven’t as yet revealed their identity.”

Libya Alahrar TV wrote that “the Minister of the Interior in the Government of National Accord, Abdul Salam Ashour, reported the fall of a shell at the airport of Muaitika International without causing any damage.

For its part, the international airport announced on its Facebook page to suspend flights to the airport until further notice, without giving details.”

The Libya Observer said flights were resumed a day later.

Reports of indiscriminate artillery shelling point at the 7th Brigade or GNA-affiliated militias as the perpetrator.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Images of the aftermath
  • More pictures of the incident

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC097

Incident date

September 23–24, 2018

Location

خلة الفرجان, Khallet Al Furjan, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.795738, 13.217038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed and another one was reported missing, probably due to indiscriminate artillery shelling in Tripoli.

Alaraby wrote: “The clashes continued sporadically, southeast of the capital Tripoli, on Monday, amid the continued shelling on civilians, while the government of reconciliation is silent about the situation.

The sounds of rockets and missiles, which show the continuation of the war in the southeast of the capital, did not stop, while a number of remote neighbourhoods were hit by the indiscriminate rocket fire on the homes of the residents.”

The Tripoli Wounded Affairs Administration reported two people dead, one confirmed and one missing.

Libya’s Channel and Libya Akhbar said one civilian was dead and 21 people were wounded but didn’t elaborate if those wounded were civilians.

Local reports point at the 7th Brigade or GNA-affiliated militias as the perpetrator of the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–21
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Statistics on the clashes from Tripoli Wounded Affairs Administration

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Khallet Al Furjan (خلة الفرجان), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.795738, 13.217038. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–21
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC096

Incident date

September 23, 2018

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli: Airport road, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.806027, 13.139814 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians, all of them from the Bin Zakri family, were reported killed because of if indiscriminate artillery shelling on their house near the Airport road in Tripoli.

Dr Suad Diab, a well-known doctor from Tripoli, her husband Ali Eltaher Bin Zakri and their two children Mohammed Ali Bin Zakri and Riham Ali Ben Zakri reportedly died after a shell hit their home just behind Libya Mall.

Ewan Libya wrote: “Media sources confirmed the death of a family of four after a shell fell on their house near Tripoli airport.”

Other sources published similar reports.

The Tripoli Protection Force militia accused the Somoud Brigade which supports the 7th Brigade of conducting the shelling.

Two sources, Radaa Abuslim and Alwasat, however, contested the claims and said the story was untrue, citing the Ministry of Health.

A local medical source told Airwars that the family’s death currently can’t be confirmed.

The case will be updated once there is more information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Dr Suad Diab
Adult female Via Ewan Libya killed
Ali Eltaher Bin Zakri
Adult male Via Ewan Libya killed
Mohammed Ali Bin Zakri
Child male Via Ewan Libya killed
Riham Ali Ben Zakri
Child female Via Ewan Libya killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    7th Brigade

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Headline: "Four members of one family were killed in clashes in the capital"

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the road leading to the airport in Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.806027, 13.139814. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the road leading to the airport in Tripoli (طرابلس‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    7th Brigade

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC095

Incident date

September 23, 2018

Location

خلة الفرجان, Khallet Al Furjan, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.795738, 13.217038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One elderly man from Syria was reportedly injured because of indiscriminate artillery shelling on the Khallet Al Furjan neighbourhood of Tripoli.

The Tripoli Wounded Affairs Administration posted details and pictures on the incident on Facebook: “The field hospital of the Department of Wounded Affairs received on Sunday, September 23, 2018 an injured elderly man from Syria who was injured when a shell fell on his residence in Khallet al-Furjan area. He was given the first aid needed by the field hospital team.”

Ala Kikra, Alwasat and Libyan CNA published similar report referring to the Wounded Affairs Administration’s statement.

Local reports of artillery shelling by the 7th Brigade and GNA-affiliated militias point at one of the parties as the perpetrator.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of the supposed victim by the Tripoli Wounded Affairs Administration

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Khallet Al Furjan (خلة الفرجان), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.795738, 13.217038. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Khallet Al Furjan (خلة الفرجان).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (4) [ collapse]