Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

LQ049

Incident date

June 27, 2017

Location

الحدود الليبية المصرية, Libyan-Egyptian border, Butnan, Libya

Geolocation

29.3223255, 24.7302246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Reuters and local sources, Egyptian airstrikes destroyed 12 vehicles allegedly carrying weapons and explosives near the border between Libya and Egypt.

The sources were conflicted as to whether the incident took place inside Libya or Egypt, with most of them stating it was in Libya.

However, Libya Herald noted the following: “The Egyptian air force claims to have destroyed a convoy of trucks laden with weapons as it crossed from Libya south of the Siwa oasis between the Qattara Depression and the Egyptian Sand Sea in the Western Desert. It posted footage said to show the airstrikes going in on Tuesday as the convoy moved apparently slowly through a remote desert area. A military spokesman in Cairo said that the 12 vehicles had been hit when they were some 60 kilometres inside Egypt. He said the airstrikes had been ordered as part of an intelligence-led operation. After the air attack, ground forces were said to be pursuing the survivors. The Egyptians have revealed nothing about the identity of those in the convoy. However, the suspicion is that whether they were militants or just smugglers, the weapons, explosives and ammunition in the trucks were ultimately destined for terrorists based in Sinai.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ065

Incident date

February 15, 2017

Location

الحدود الليبية المصرية, Libyan-Egyptian border, Libya

Geolocation

29.3223255, 24.7302246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Social media sources reported airstrikes on ten vehicles allegedly attempting to infiltrate Egypt.

Oded Berkowitz reported that the Egyptian Air Force bombed 10 vehicles “carrying weapons and ammunition near the border with Libya.”

An Alwast News described the incident similarly and cited the Egyptian Air Force as saying all 10 vehicles had been destroyed. A military spokesperson confirmed that they had targeted the vehicles as they allegedly tried to cross the border into Egypt.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC041

Incident date

September 16, 2016

Location

الجغبوب, Jaghbub, Butnan, Libya

Geolocation

29.741912, 24.515678 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an incident dated no later than September 16th, Alwasat reported that three young men from Al-Bayda were killed in an Egyptian airstrike after crossing the border coming from a fishing trip near Jaghbub.

The journal named the victims as Mu’taz Salem Ali Bhohelasiya, 19 years old, Hussam al-Gilani, 27 years old, and Salem Hussein Issa Fakreen, 30 years old.

According to the only survivor, Salem Khattab Hamad bin Ali Buhajar, he and his friends came under attack by bombing and gunfire: “The next morning, the battery of the vehicle ran out because the refrigerator was running. We relaxed a bit and started to prepare breakfast for my friends. In the meantime, a plane came flying around for half an hour. I ran a little away from the car that was blown up by the bombing. In fact, the scene was painful. My friend, Moataz died instantly, while the other two were alive, but one of them suffered severe burns and the other was hit by a bullet.”

He pointed out that Salem Fakirin died the day after the incident from his injuries, while Al-Jilani died on the third day because of their failure to save them and stay in the desert.

While Alwasat reported the incident occurred on the Egyptian side of the border, UNSMIL said in its September 2016 report that it was near Jaghbub in Libya.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

17 years old male Via Alwasat killed
27 years old male Via Alwasat killed
30 years old male Via Alwasat killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image shows the victims before they were killed in alleged Egyptian airstrike near r the border (Source: Al Wasat)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the vicinity of Jaghbub (الجغبوب) village. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Jaghbub are: 29.741912, 24.515678.

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]