Investigations

Investigations

Published

March 18, 2021

Written by

Oliver Imhof

Assisted by

Anna Zahn, Ayana Enomoto-Hurst, Clive Vella, Duncan Salkovskis, Imogen Piper, Mai Fareed, Mohamed ben Halim, Mohammed al Jumaily, Osama Mansour, Peixian Wang and Shihab Halep

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NATO members still refuse to discuss potential civilian harm from their strikes a decade after intervening against Gaddafi.

Ten years ago, French President Nicholas Sarkozy welcomed British Prime Minister David Cameron and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the Elysee Palace with a shock announcement. “He surprised us both when he said that he had already issued orders for French jets to take off,” Cameron later recalled. The first airstrikes of the international intervention against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s forces hit their targets less than an hour later.

The 2011 Libyan civil war had begun on February 17th as an Arab Spring uprising, with tens of thousands taking to the streets. Within weeks Gaddafi’s forces had brutally crushed most of the protests, and were closing in on the last major rebel stronghold of Benghazi. With fears of a Srebrenica-style massacre, the United Nations passed a resolution demanding the protection of civilians, upon which the NATO intervention was then justified. The war officially ended in October as Gaddafi, whose forces had been routed, was captured and killed by NATO-backed rebels.

Neither during nor after the war has there been a thorough analysis of the number of civilians likely killed by all sides. For the tenth anniversary of the conflict, Airwars has conducted the first comprehensive overview of civilian harm from all belligerents, based on the available public materials.

Over six months Airwars reviewed thousands of media and social media posts, and post-conflict investigations; as well as conducting interviews with survivors and officials.

The result is a detailed look at a brief but violent conflict that killed at least 1,142 civilians and injured at least one thousand more in 212 incidents of concern that Airwars researched. By the highest estimate, as many as 3,400 civilians were killed in those events.

The new archive offers a detailed insight into gruesome air and artillery strikes, as well as shocking ground massacres that occurred during the civil war. The tally of civilian deaths during the uprising was almost certainly significantly higher than the Airwars study indicates. In 2011 for example, social media use by Libyans was still relatively limited, and independent media in the country was not yet established. Based on Airwars’ experience of other conflicts such as Syria, a significant number of local claims of civilian harm made online at the time may also since have been lost, as a result of sites being closed or accounts being shut down.

Many small scale ground actions are additionally not reflected at present in the Airwars database – though likely constituted a key element of the civilian toll. Most estimates of Libya 2011 casualties to date have included both fighters and civilians – with a Libyan government study from 2013 likely being the most accurate, with its estimate of 4,700 fighter and civilian deaths on the rebel side alone, as well as at least 2,100 people listed at the time as missing.

Armed men at the edge of Fashlum Al-Dhahra neighbourhood in Tripoli on February 20th 2011, where up to 700 civilians were alleged killed by Gaddafi forces while taking part in mass demonstrations, Image via Taha Krewi

Most deaths from Gaddafi forces

The tragedy of Libya’s 2011 war was not just of those who were killed, injured and displaced – but of the new world it ushered in. Following a couple of years of uneasy calm, by 2014 the country had split in two and reverted to civil war. Only in October 2020 was a United Nations-brokered deal seemingly able to bring a decade of violence to an end, though the rifts remain.

Hala Bugaighis, a Libyan lawyer and founder of the Jusoor Libya think tank, said the 2011 war has had two long-lasting effects that have deeply impacted Libyan society.

“The first is the impact on the social fabric that emerged from armed conflicts between cities,” she told Airwars. During the war some neighbouring towns found themselves on either side of the conflict, with one broadly loyal to Gaddafi’s forces and the other supporting the rebellion.

“The second is the long term effect of the conflict on the mental wellbeing of civilians, including PTSD, stress and depression,” Bugaighis added.

The majority of civilian harm identified in the events reviewed by Airwars was reportedly caused by forces of the Gaddafi regime – with between 869 and 1,999 likely deaths and as many as 1,100 injuries identified from 105 assessed actions. Overall, as many as 2,300 civilian deaths were locally alleged from these same Gaddafi actions. Many more small-scale killings have yet to be fully documented.

At the beginning of the uprising, Gaddafi forces were reported to have deliberately targeted protesters with both heavy weaponry and small arms fire, causing high numbers of casualties.

Later on, several massacres and indiscriminate shelling of urban areas by the regime were documented in both local and international media.

“In the first days of the uprising, I was so scared,” said Bugaighis, who lived in Tripoli at the time. “Growing up in Libya we were raised to fear the regime, so at first, I thought nothing would take down the regime. I started to realise that it is more serious when the state of emergency was declared in Tripoli and foreigners were evacuated.”

Many Gaddafi forces incidents had previously gone unreported to an international audience, given the tendency of international media to focus only on larger scale events. On June 29th for example, a review of local sources found that a 13-year old boy named Moftah Muhammad Jalwal was killed and six more civilians injured by Gaddafi forces shelling on the Doufan neighbourhood of Misurata. Gruesome videos showed bloodstains at the site and injured children in the local hospital.

Moftah Muhammad Jalwal, reportedly killed by Gaddafi forces on June 29th 2011 in Misurata (Screengrab via a video by Ali Al Dadi)

NATO: lower civilian harm but lack of accountability

A decade on from NATO’s intervention, neither it nor any individual member has ever publicly admitted to a single civilian death. Libyans themselves tell a very different story.

Airwars reviewed claims of thousands of airstrikes reportedly conducted by NATO and its allies during Libya 2011, which between them resulted in 223 to 403 likely civilian deaths and 215 to 357 injuries in 84 events of concern, according to our assessment. NATO itself declared having conducted 7,600 strikes. Overall, Airwars identified as many as 800 civilians locally alleged killed by NATO forces – though those higher claims appear to have been significantly exaggerated by pro-Gaddafi sources at the time.

United Nations investigators after the war accused both Gaddafi and rebel forces of indiscriminate killings, but concluded that NATO had conducted a “highly precise campaign with a demonstrable determination to avoid civilian casualties.” They noted that the international alliance had used precision-guided munitions and carried out extensive pre-strike assessments to try and avoid killing civilians.

Frederic Wehrey, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, said NATO planners were supported by Western special forces marking targets on the ground, which had contributed to the accuracy of bombing and helped avoid civilian harm.

Both rebels and NATO were “very active in liaison, coordinating various operation centres even though NATO commandos made clear they were not acting as the rebels’ air force,” he says.

But while NATO itself insisted it was purely focused on protecting civilians, key members of the alliance were accused of supporting regime change. An Airwars investigation has found that a Norwegian effort to negotiate Gaddafi’s stepping down in April 2011 was seemingly undermined by France and the UK. As the former Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Store now notes, “Had there been in the international community a willingness to pursue this track with some authority and dedication, I believe there could have been an opening to achieve a less dramatic outcome and avoid the collapse of the Libyan state.”

Even though the number of reported civilian casualties from NATO actions is far lower when compared to Gaddafi forces, Airwars’ findings indicate that likely fatalities were still significantly higher than the estimated 60 deaths that the United Nations documented at the time, in its review of 20 events of concern.

By contrast and based on local reporting from the time across Libya, as well as major investigations by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the New York Times, Airwars has identified at least 223 likely civilian deaths.

Reported victims of NATO airstrikes on Majer on August 8th 2011 (via Majer Zletin Massacre)

Those seeking clarity about individual incidents remain sadly disappointed. Inquiries to NATO about civilian harm from its actions in Libya are routinely referred to member states, which in turn then refer back to NATO. All recent Freedom of Information requests from Airwars to individual member states about their potential role in civilian harm during 2011 have been denied.

Only on one known occasion, on June 19th 2011, did NATO acknowledge that a malfunction of a munition in an attack on Tripoli’s Souk al Joumaa neighbourhood had potentially resulted in civilian casualties.

Mohammed Al Gharari, who lost five family members in the strike, told Airwars he had the following questions for NATO: “You struck people and admitted that it was by mistake. Why did you never care about us? If you had any humanity and you believe in human rights, you would have at least cared.”

“Even after ten years, no phone call or even any official has contacted us.”

Aftermath of the incident in Souq Al Joumaa on June 19th, 2011

Little reporting on civilian harm from rebels

Among the three parties to Libya’s 2011 war, the lowest documented number of civilian casualties was reported from rebel actions – with 57 incidents of concern reviewed by Airwars containing allegations of between 50 and 113 likely deaths.

That relatively low estimate of civilian harm from rebel actions can be explained by the lack of an air force and access to heavy weapons, particularly early on. It may also reflect a lack of media interest at the time.

The largest known loss of civilian life from rebel actions was reported on August 10th in the remote southern city of Tawergha, when between 24 and 74 inhabitants, including whole families and an imam of the town, were claimed killed by artillery fire. Tawergha was considered loyal to Gaddafi, with its more than 40,000 residents forced to flee by rebels. The majority of residents have still not been able to return a decade on.

“130 men from Tawergha are missing ever since, and no one knows anything about them. They were taken by the rebels. My brother is one of them,” Gabriel Farag, who also had to flee Tawergha, told Airwars. “These 130 men were arrested just for the mere fact that they are from Tawergha.”

“The war has impacted Libyan society in many ways, especially in social relationships among tribes. Libyan society is a tribal society, and the war has broken the connections between tribes across the country,” says Mustafa Al Fetouri, a Libyan journalist who covered the civil war back in 2011.

Mabrouk Elyan, reportedly among those killed by rebel forces on August 10th 2011 in Tawergha, via Tawergha Martyrs

Ten years of anarchy

What followed after the 2011 defeat of Gaddafi was a decade of chaos and on-and-off civil war that turned Libya into a failed state. Many hopes were betrayed and opportunities missed in a country that had once been described as Africa’s most developed.

“The notion of justice was completely absent after the revolution,” says Bughaigis. “Instead of avoiding a repetition of the injustice that occurred in the past, such as the Abu Salim prison incident or the killing of students, all we saw was the repetition of these mistakes over and over again.”

Airwars found that some victims had been paid compensation by one of Libya’s post-revolution governments, but only for damage done to property. Efforts to create proper mechanisms for restitution were abandoned when the country slipped into civil war again in 2014.

“Justice was one of the principles of the Libyan uprising. However, all those in power have failed to do so, and it may be in a systematic way to entrench chaos and hate,” explained Bughaigis.

Former US President Barack Obama once described the failure to plan for what came after NATO’s intervention in Libya as a “shit show”, and as his biggest foreign policy mistake. “We averted large-scale civilian casualties, we prevented what almost surely would have been a prolonged and bloody civil conflict. And despite all that, Libya is a mess,” he told The Atlantic in 2016.

However, better times could now be ahead for Libyans, with the country recently selecting a unified transitional government which has committed to working on a reconciliation process for those affected by the civil wars. Those in the international community who have become embroiled in Libya’s violence since 2011 could now too – it might be hoped – finally acknowledge the civilian harm they themselves have caused.

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Incident date

October 12, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-204

LOCATION

سرت‎, Western Sirte, Surt, Libya

At least 42 civilians were killed near the western Sirte frontline and were found on October 12, 2011 according to Elaph. According to Anis Faraj, a witness who claimed he shared a cell with those that were found dead, about 47 men were being held in a cell and they were taken to Musassim Gaddafi,

Summary

First published
October 12, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
42
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
View Incident

Incident date

September 21, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-171

LOCATION

بني وليد, Bani Walid, Misrata, Libya

At least four people were killed by Gaddafi forces in Bani Walid on September 21, 2011 according to News.sar5t.libya and Al Jazeera. According to both sources, the four people were executed for raising the flag of independence.

Summary

First published
September 21, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
View Incident

Incident date

September 2, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-156

LOCATION

وادي الأحمر, Wadi Al Ahmar, Surt, Libya

At least 45 people, including men and women, were found dead in September in a mass grave in the Red Valley near Sirte after being tortured and killed by Gaddafi’s forces. One person survived and was left with the dead in the grave.

Summary

First published
September 2, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
45
(2 women2 men)
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
View Incident

Incident date

August 26, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-152

LOCATION

مشفى أبو سليم, Abu Salim Hospital, Tarabulus, Libya

Between 39 and 200 civilians died in Abu Salim hospital in Tripoli on August 26, 2011 according to multiple news sources, including Al Jazeera and BBC News. A video by Al Jazeera shows Abu Salim hospital in Tripoli full over more than 100 dead bodies in the intensive care unit after the majority of the

Summary

First published
August 26, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
39 – 200
(2 children2 women2 men)
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
View Incident

Incident date

August 25, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-151

LOCATION

باب العزيزية, Bab Al Aziziyah, Tarabulus, Libya

At least 29 people were killed at a camp site outside the Bab Al Aziziyah compound in Tripoli on August 25, 2011 that may have housed a makeshift medical clinic and was alleged to be supervised by Gaddafi supporters. According to BBC News, two of those killed had strips of green cloth, indicating that they

Summary

First published
August 25, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
29
(1 man)
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

August 23, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-150

LOCATION

باب عكاره, Bab Akkara, Tarabulus, Libya

Between 15 and 19 men, including three medical personnel, were killed and at least six others were injured between Gargur and the Gaddafi compound at Bab al-Aziziyah in Tripoli on August 23, 2011. A member of the rebel forces witnessed 15 bodies, all in civilian clothes and all of them handcuffed behind the back with electric

Summary

First published
August 23, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15 – 19
(15–19 men)
Civilians reported injured
6
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
View Incident

Incident date

August 23, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-149

LOCATION

خلة الفرجان, Warehouse in Khallet Al Furjan, Tarabulus, Libya

Between 63 and 170 prisoners were killed in the early evening in Yarmouk prison under the control of Gaddafi forces in a warehouse in Khallet al Furjan on August 23, 2011. According to the UN Report Source, in the early evening, prison guards at the facility threw between 6 and 8 grenades into the warehouse

Summary

First published
August 23, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
64 – 170
(4 men)
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
Named victims
63 named
View Incident

Incident date

August 23, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-148

LOCATION

باب العزيزية, Bab Al Aziziya, Tarabulus, Libya

Summary

First published
August 23, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
View Incident

Incident date

August 23, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-147

LOCATION

غرغور, Gharghour, Tarabulus, Libya

At least 21 people, including at least three men, were killed and two men were injured in a detention facility run by the Revolutionary Guard in Gargur, south of Bab Al-Aziziyah, on August 23, 2011 according to UN Report Source Page 72. According to witnesses and family members, most of those being held in the

Summary

First published
August 23, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
21
(3 men)
Civilians reported injured
2
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
Named victims
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

August 22, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-146

LOCATION

طرابلس‎, Tripoli, Tarabulus, Libya

Between seven and 16 people, including three belligerents, were killed on Abu Salim Highway in Tripoli by Gaddafi snipers on August 22, 2011. A young man from the Abu Salim area told Libyans that 30 Gaddafi supporters were stationed on the bridge and another group were stationed under the bridge off the highway and they

Summary

First published
August 22, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 13
(4 men)
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
Named victims
4 named
Belligerents reported killed
3
View Incident

Incident date

August 21, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-145

LOCATION

باب العزيزية, Bab Al Aziziya Prison, Tarabulus, Libya

At least 25 prisoners were killed in Bab Al-Aziziyah prison on August 21, 2011 by Gaddafi forces according to Facebook posts from Al Mashashiya Youth and Shahd Omar. According to Al Mashashiya youth’s post, Ezz Al-Din Muhammad Hassan Al-Mashay, who was killed, and his father were arrested and detained for more than 20 days the

Summary

First published
August 21, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
25
(1 man)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

August 21, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-144

LOCATION

غرغور, Gharghour, Tarabulus, Libya

At least 17 people were killed in the Gargur district in Tripoli by pro-Gaddafi forces according to BBC News. Human Rights Watch says that pro-Gaddafi forces were holding the dead in a building belonging to the Libyan Internal Security Forces and that they were physically tortured before they were killed. According to a doctor, half

Summary

First published
August 21, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
17
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
View Incident

Incident date

August 21, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-143

LOCATION

كوبرى الهضبة الشرقية , Eastern Hill Bridge, Tarabulus, Libya

Between 60 and 72 people were killed near the Eastern Hill Bridge on a highway in Tripoli by Gaddafi forces on August 21, 2011 according to multiple posts and videos, including Gharyan Radio and Libyan People Youtube. A video posted by Wasat Al Bilad shows multiple men with guns blocking a road and interacting with

Summary

First published
August 21, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
60 – 72
(2 men)
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

August 10, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-140

LOCATION

مصراتة, Misrata, Libya

On August 10th, 2011, Gaddafi forces reportedly fired between four to eight rockets at Misurata. A single source claims three had arrived in the hospital during the bombings, and an another source mentions injuries without providing a number. It was unclear how many of those who arrived at the hospital were injured, killed, as well

Summary

First published
August 10, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 3
Civilians reported injured
0–3
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Gaddafi Forces
Suspected target
Libyan rebel forces
Belligerents reported killed
0–3
Belligerents reported injured
0–3
View Incident

Incident date

August 9, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-138

LOCATION

مصراتة, Misurata, Misrata, Libya

At least 16 people, identified as Egyptian workers, were killed by Gaddafi forces on August 9, 2011 in Misrata according to Abdul Asallak’s post on YouTube and a tweet by @tounsiahourra. Multiple sources stated that those killed were Egyptian workers who worked in a warehouse in the Kararim area of Misrata. A video posted by Abdul

Summary

First published
August 9, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
16
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
View Incident

Incident date

August 5, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-136

LOCATION

المليعب, Al Mleeb, Al Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Between 28 and 49 people, including 28 men, were killed by Gaddafi forces in Al Mleeb in the vicinity of Al Qalaa village on August 5, 2011 according to various sources, including a video on ImazighenLibya’s YouTube and a post on Safit Al Somoud’s Facebook. A graphic video posted by ImazighenLibya shows rows of dead bodies, more

Summary

First published
August 5, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
30 – 49
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
Named victims
28 named, 8 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 31, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-133

LOCATION

منطقة سوق الثلاثاء, Suq Al Thulatha, Misrata, Libya

On July 31st, 2011, eight people were reported killed in Misurata by artillery strikes from Gaddafi forces. In addition, 20 were reported injured by AlMukhtar news. The attacks occurred within the market area of western Misrata. No additional information on the victims were report was unclear how many casualties were civilians or rebel forces. AlMukhtar

Summary

First published
July 31, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 8
Civilians reported injured
0–20
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
Belligerents reported killed
0–8
Belligerents reported injured
0–20
View Incident

Incident date

July 31, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-134

LOCATION

مصراتة, Misrata, Libya

On July 31st, 2011, seven missiles were fired on Misurata, leading to the death of 3 men and wounding four others. Two brothers, Abdul Salam Abdul Latif and Youssef Abdul Latif were killed in the strikes, and their cousin Muhammad Abdul Latif died of injuries after. Four others were reported injured as a result of

Summary

First published
July 31, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(3 men)
Civilians reported injured
4
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
Unknown
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 24, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-129

LOCATION

مصراتة, Misurata, Misrata, Libya

On July 24th, 2011, six rockets were fired on Southern Misurata by Gaddafi forces, resulting in the deaths of two people, one Muhammad Muhammad al-Qunaidi and one unnamed woman. Injuries were also reported, but no numbers were provided. Bint Misurata posted on Facebook “6 rockets fell this morning on civilian neighborhoods in southern Misrata, killing

Summary

First published
July 24, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 woman1 man)
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
Unknown
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 19, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-127

LOCATION

مصراتة, Misrata, Libya

On July 19th, 2011, Gaddafi forces fired five Grad missiles on Misurata, reported to have killed one and wounded 20 others. It was unclear whether the casualties were belligerents or civilians. A Facebook post from Malek Algasier stated “The outcome of today’s clashes in Misurata, one martyr [Muhammad Sa`id Ihmida] and twenty wounded.” Multiple sources

Summary

First published
July 19, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
Civilians reported injured
0–20
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
Libyan rebel forces
Suspected target
Libyan rebel forces
Named victims
1 named
Belligerents reported killed
0–1
Belligerents reported injured
0–20
View Incident

Incident date

July 10, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-125

LOCATION

مصراتة, Misrata, Libya

On July 10th, 2011, Gaddafi forces fired eight Grad rockets at Misurata, resulting in the death of seven people. It was unclear how many civilian and belligerent deaths were included. @misratapost tweeted “Today, Sunday 10-07-2011, the number of martyrs in Misurata has reached 7”.

Summary

First published
July 10, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 7
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Gaddafi Forces
Suspected target
Libyan rebel forces
Belligerents reported killed
0–7
View Incident

Incident date

July 9, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-124

LOCATION

مستشفى الاطفال, Children's Hospital, Misrata, Libya

On July 9th, 2011, shelling from Gaddafi forces killed two civilians and injured 12 in Misurata, including killing one female infant in the Children’s Hospital. @Bozakook tweeted that “indiscriminate shelling hit 12 civilians in Misrata, and 2 were killed” (translated from Arabic), and was the only source reporting injuries and two civilian deaths. Voodito tweeted:

Summary

First published
July 9, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
12
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
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 6, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-123

LOCATION

الدفنية, Al Dafiniyah, Misrata, Libya

On July 6th, 2011, Gaddafi forces shelled the Al-Dafniya area, west of Misurata, killing three civilians and between 14 and 16 rebel fighters. An additional 42 to 50 rebel fighters were reported injured. No additional information on civilians were reported. The head of the media committee in Misurata, quoted in CNN, stated that three civilians

Summary

First published
July 6, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Gaddafi Forces
Suspected target
Unknown
Belligerents reported killed
14–16
Belligerents reported injured
50
View Incident

Incident date

July 5, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-122

LOCATION

مصراتة, Misrata, Libya

On July 5th, 2011, at least 11 were killed and 57 were wounded in bombings on Misurata by Gaddafi forces. It was unclear how many were Libyan rebel forces and how many were civilians, and no detailed information were provided on the casualties. BBC wrote that “Libyan opposition sources said that at least 11 people

Summary

First published
July 5, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 11
Civilians reported injured
0–57
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
Gaddafi Forces
Belligerents reported killed
5–11
Belligerents reported injured
0–57
View Incident

Incident date

June 29, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-121

LOCATION

دوفان, Doufan, Misrata, Libya

On June 29th, 2011, rockets on Misurata from Gaddafi forces killed one thirteen year old and injured six others. The shelling was primarily aimed at the Doufan neighborhood. The deceased thirteen year old was identified as Moftah Muhammad Jalwal, while three out of the six injured were identified, but their ages were not provided. Multiple

Summary

First published
June 29, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
6
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
Named victims
4 named
View Incident

Incident date

June 24, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-119

LOCATION

زاوية المحجوب, Zawiyat Al Mahjoub, Misrata, Libya

Missiles from Gaddafi forces allegedly struck Misrata in Zawiyat Al-Mahjoub and near the coastal road at 10 in the evening and killed one young man named Muhammad Al-Kabayli and injured two others. According to a Facebook post by Free Misrata 4 ever, Muhammad died because there was a shortage of medical supplies due to a

Summary

First published
June 24, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
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
Gaddafi forces
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

June 24, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-118

LOCATION

الدافنية, Al Dafiniya, Misrata, Libya

Rocket fire allegedly launched by Gaddafi’s forces struck the Al Dafiniya area and killed between one and four people and injured between nine and ten. A Facebook post from News sarkhat Libya alleges that those killed and injured were rebels while a tweet from @shababalnhda alleges that they were civilians.

Summary

First published
June 24, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 4
Civilians reported injured
0–10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
Gaddafi Forces
Suspected target
Libyan rebel forces
Belligerents reported killed
0–4
Belligerents reported injured
0–10
View Incident

Incident date

June 22, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-116

LOCATION

الدفنية, Dafiniyah, Misrata, Libya

Up to four civilians were reported killed by Gaddafi regime forces artillery shelling on Misurata. Al Jazeera reported: “On the Misurata front, Reuters reported that three people were killed and 12 wounded in an artillery bombardment by Gaddafi forces on the Dafiniyah area. More rockets fell on Wednesday in a suburb close to the port,

Summary

First published
June 22, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 4
Civilians reported injured
4–12
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
Gaddafi Forces
Suspected target
Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

June 20, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-113

LOCATION

الرويسات, Roiussat, Misrata, Libya

A child was allegedly killed and his mother severely injured by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling on the Roiussat area of Misurata. Al Somood reported: “The missile that fell yesterday evening in the Roiussat area was at the house of the Abu Shaiba family. A child was killed and his mother was seriously injured and she

Summary

First published
June 20, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
2
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
Unknown
Named victims
1 named
View Incident