Investigations

Investigations

Published

March 19, 2021

Written by

Joe Dyke

Assisted by

Imogen Piper

published in partnership with

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Exclusive: On the 10th anniversary of Nato’s Libya campaign, Norway’s former foreign minister reveals behind-the-scenes negotiations which sought to end the war

Two months had passed since Libyans first took to the streets. Hundreds were dead as government forces and Nato-backed rebels fought a brutal conflict, but in a hotel room 2,000 miles away the warring sides agreed a secret deal to end the war.

The confidential Norwegian-brokered talks – full details of which are being revealed exclusively by The Independent on the tenth anniversary of the Nato bombing campaign – were the closest the world came to a peaceful end to Libya’s 2011 civil war.

The two sides agreed to a draft text stating that Muammar Gaddafi, who had ruled Libya for 42 years, would step down and leave politics, but keep the institutions of state in place.

In the end the talks fell apart and rebels, with Nato’s support, ultimately captured and killed Gaddafi. More than 1,000 civilians were killed during the war, according to new research by the civilian casualty monitor Airwars.

In the decade since Libya has been embroiled in perpetual conflict, with the country eventually becoming the second largest base for Isis. This week an interim unity government was sworn in, the latest political attempt to stem violence in the country.

In his first interview with international media regarding the 2011 negotiations, the then Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Store, who brokered the deal, accused France and Britain of opposing a negotiated solution.

The Independent front page on March 19, 2021 featuring an Airwars investigation

 

Read the full story at The Independent.

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Published

September 2020

Written by

Oliver Imhof

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Civilian casualty situation at the beginning of the LNA's Tripoli offensive on April 4th, 2019

Two months after the brutal siege of Libya’s capital ended, new interactive Airwars mapping shows the impact of 14 months of fighting between two rival governments on the city’s beleaguered civilians.

Airwars has visualised every allegation of civilian harm from air and artillery strikes during the period of war in and around Tripoli between April 2019 and June 2020. Glasgow-based consultants Rectangle designed the innovative mapping, in an effort to find fresh ways of visualising civilian harm on the modern battlefield.

The new Airwars mapping uses a sliding timeline to enable an overview of often indiscriminate air and artillery strikes on Tripoli and its suburbs. A fine-detail satellite map of Tripoli and its suburbs makes it possible to see the siege evolving over the 14 months of its duration.

The map utilises a 1km radius hexagonal system, whose height represents the number of civilians reported killed in an incident. This in turn enables users to see the extent of shelling on various neighbourhoods, with casualty spikes clearly revealed in heavily hit areas such as Salaheddin, Abu Salim and Tajoura. The new mapping can also be used as a portal to access individual civilian harm assessments on the Airwars website.

Lizzie Malcolm and Daniel Powers of design consultancy Rectangle explain their rationale behind the new approach: “The challenge of mapping and visualising civilian harm is to balance the presentation of aggregated information and individual details. Maps of large areas and timelines of conflicts are useful for understanding scale. But any visualisation should be a gateway to the evidence and stories about individuals and families,” they tell Airwars.

Over the course of the siege, Airwars recorded 339 civilian harm events in Libya, 197 of which around Tripoli, nearly tripling the number of locally reported incidents since the end of the NATO campaign in 2011. At least 197 civilians were killed by the violence and another 537 were injured by the violence, as the LNA and GNA fought for control of Tripoli.

The LNA’s Tripoli offensive introduced Libyans to a degree of conflict violence not seen since NATO’s intervention almost a decade earlier. Even when the conflict was over, LNA forces and Wagner mercenaries reportedly booby-trapped houses and planted landmines, leading to gruesome additional reports of killed and injured civilians.

The siege of Tripoli has previously been visualised by other organisations, though not via an interactive map. UN agency OCHA has for example provided infographics summing up their findings. And Dzsihad Hadelli has previously visualised Airwars data on civilian casualties for the Libya Observer.

https://twitter.com/dhadelli/status/1246883657148661761

Is justice possible?

Mapping and recording harm in conflicts can help both with the proper investigation of civilian casualties, and of possible war crimes – potentially leading to reconciliation and justice in those parts of society affected by the fighting. “There is no way out of this without people being held accountable,“ says Elham Saudi, Director of Lawyers for Justice in Libya.

Her organisation seeks to document violations of humanitarian and human rights law in Libya, in turn hoping for accountability. “If you’re aiming for criminal responsibility, the threshold is really high. First hand accounts and witnesses are the most important thing,“ Saudi explains. Establishing the chain of command that leads to an event in question is another crucial point, she adds.

As a former resident of Tripoli suburbs, Saudi knows from friends and family what the siege did to Tripoli’s population: “The impact was felt throughout the city, the fear and anticipation of being targeted was quite overwhelming – even if you didn’t live in the areas being targeted, because of the indiscriminate nature of the attacks. You always felt like you were a target.”

However, her organisation does not focus only upon recent events around Tripoli but investigates violations committed in the civil war across the country. The highly polarised political landscape poses an additional challenge, as activists and media in Libya are often affiliated with one of the parties to the conflict: “The hyper-politicisation of everything makes it very difficult to keep the distance from what’s being said in the media. I don’t disregard anything just because it belongs to a certain party.”

“Things get lost if you don’t preserve evidence in a conflict. Preserving evidence is absolutely vital, it’s not just about the present but also about the future for civil society,“ the lawyer elaborates. Social media plays an increasing role there as “Perpetrators help you because they incriminate themselves.“

Mahmoud Werfalli’s arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, for example, was based on social media accounts of extrajudicial killings. The former LNA commander is accused of executing ten prisoners in Benghazi in 2018, a case that was widely documented on social networks – as are many cases of potential war crimes in Libya.

At this point it remains difficult to predict which alleged incidents might potentially bear fruit in court. War crimes were alleged on both sides of the conflict. “The US is promising because Haftar, as a US citizen, is subject to its jurisdiction; it also allows for individuals to pursue civil responsibility,” Saudi says. Three civil lawsuits attempting to do that have been filed in the US for example, whereby affected families are suing the General for compensation for his alleged responsibility in the deaths of family members as a result of the indiscriminate shelling of Tripoli neighbourhoods by his forces.

Links to individual case assessments that occurred in the Salaheddin neighbourhood of Tripoli

Bringing Libyans back to the negotiations table

Even as the search for accountability continues, rifts remain deep within Libyan society after so many years of civil war. The big question is: how might Libya finally find a way towards a peaceful future?

A pause in fighting between Libya’s rival camps might be expected to generate optimism in a country riven by intermittent civil war since 2011. But instead of improving the livelihoods of the population, both seem keen to return to the status quo that partly led to the siege of Tripoli in the first place. Infighting within both the Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA); profound economic problems; and deep distrust between all the main political actors, make a peaceful future more uncertain.

Recently popular protests erupted in both GNA- and LNA-controlled territories, that were in turn met with violence by both governments. At the same time, a new military build-up around Sirte has raised fears of another escalation in violence – while a dire economic situation exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the population into ever deeper poverty.

Virginie Collombier, Professor of Social and Political Dynamics in Libya at the European University Institute of Florence, has been working on grassroots mediation processes led by Libyans for many years. She sees the first step to a lasting ceasefire taking place at the international level – getting countries now meddling in Libya to respect the commitments they made during the Berlin peace conference: “The aim of the mediation process is to find someone who has the capacities to provide guarantees and enforce things. The UN can’t do anything alone as we see; and the EU doesn’t have the capacities or willingness.“

“Who has the capacities to influence things on the ground: Russia? Turkey?“ Collombier asks.  Neither seems a likely candidate given the ongoing geopolitical struggle between these two states: “Most importantly [there is] the US, but will they work as a guarantor on broader issues related to the economy, and the political framework?“

The current stalemate may however make things easier, Professor Collombier believes: “There is clearly a sense of exhaustion, the meaning of the war is lost, which is something we can see on both sides of the divide.“ She adds: “There is not much we can achieve through violence and weapons, the situation has stabilised around two camps that can block each other.“

However, internal divisions in both the GNA and in Haftar’s camp show that the situation could turn violent again if issues are not resolved. Collombier stresses the need for a dialogue that includes all Libyans, beyond the GNA and LNA: “Voices of Libyans can be heard and put pressure on politics; and diversifying the political sphere is absolutely crucial. There is a need for alternative voices and leaders. There is deep distrust in the current political elite.”

Whatever the result of both reconciliation and accountability processes in Libya, there is a long way ahead for the country to finally find peace. Documenting and archiving the crimes committed during the civil war is only an initial step towards accountability that can then lead to reconciliation between former enemies.

▲ Civilian casualty situation at the beginning of the LNA's Tripoli offensive on April 4th, 2019

Published

July 9, 2020

Written by

Airwars Staff

Killing of Iranian commander by US drone strike represents 'not just a slippery slope. It is a cliff', warns Special Rapporteur

The US assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in Baghdad in January 2020, was unlawful on several counts, according to a new report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council by its expert on extrajudicial killings.

Dr Agnes Callamard, the current UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Executions, asserts in her latest report that Soleimani’s controversial assassination by a US drone strike on Baghdad International Airport on January 3rd 2020 had violated international law in several ways.

Noting that the US drone strike had also killed several Iraqi military personnel, Dr Callamard notes that “By killing General Soleimani on Iraqi soil without first obtaining Iraq’s consent, the US violated the territorial integrity of Iraq.”

The Special Rapporteur also argues that by failing to demonstrate that Soleimani represented an imminent threat to the United States – and instead focusing on his past actions dating back to 2006 – that his killing “would be unlawful under jus ad bellum“, the criteria by which a state may engage in war.

In the bluntest condemnation yet of the Trump Administration’s killing of Iran’s leading military commander, Dr Callamard argues that “the targeted killing of General Soleimani, coming in the wake of 20 years of distortions of international law, and repeated massive violations of humanitarian law, is not just a slippery slope. It is a cliff.”

She also warns that the killing of Iran’s top general may see other nations exploit the US’s justification for the assassination: “The international community must now confront the very real prospect that States may opt to ‘strategically’ eliminate high ranking military officials outside the context of a ‘known’ war, and seek to justify the killing on the grounds of the target’s classification as a ‘terrorist’ who posed a potential future threat.”

Speaking to Airwars from Geneva ahead of her presentation to the UNHRC, Dr Callamard described the US killing of General Soleimani as “a significant escalation in the use of armed drones, and in the use of extraterritorial force. Until now, drones have focused on terrorism and on counterterrorism responses. Here we’re seeing the displacement of a counterterrorism strategy onto State officials.” She described the Trump administration’s justification of the assassination of a senior Iranian government official as “a distortion of self defence.”

Qasem Soleimani, Iran’s highest ranked military commander, was assassinated in a US drone strike near Baghdad on January 3rd 2020 (via @IRaqiRev).

‘The second drone age’

Dr Callamard’s denouncement of the US’s killing of Qasem Soleimani marks the latest in almost 20 years of concerns raised by United Nations experts on the use of armed drones for targeted assassinations. In 2002, following the killing of five al Qaeda suspects in Yemen by the CIA, then-rapporteur Asma Jahangir warned for example that the attack constituted “a clear case of extrajudicial killing”.

UN reports since then have tended to focus on controversial drone campaigns outside the hot battlefield, in countries including Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Palestine’s West Bank and Gaza Strip.

With her new report, delivered to the UNHRC on July 9th, Dr Callamard seeks to bring the discussion on armed drone use up to date, noting that “the world has entered what has been called the ‘second drone age’ with a now vast array of State and non-State actors deploying ever more advanced drone technologies, making their use a major and fast becoming international security issue.” The term ‘second drone age’ was originally coined by Airwars director Chris Woods, to reflect a growing wave of armed drone proliferation among state and non-state actors.

My latest report to the UN #HRC44 focus on targeted killings by armed drones: https://t.co/qLsqubaMpA The world has entered a “second drone age”, in which State and non-State actors are deploying ever more advanced drone technologies, a major international, security issue.

— Agnes Callamard (@AgnesCallamard) July 8, 2020

 

As Dr Callamard and her team write: “The present report seeks to update previous findings. It interrogates the reasons for drones’ proliferation and the legal implications of their promises; questions the legal bases upon which their use is founded and legitimized; and identifies the mechanisms and institutions (or lack thereof) to regulate drones’ use and respond to targeted killings. The report shows that drones are a lightning rod for key questions about protection of the right to life in conflicts, asymmetrical warfare, counter-terrorism operations, and so-called peace situations.”

Many of the conflicts monitored by Airwars are referenced by Dr Callamard.

    In Iraq, she notes that non state actors including ISIS deployed armed drones, sometimes to devastating effect. “In 2017 in Mosul, Iraq, for example, within a 24-hour period ‘there were no less than 82 drones of all shapes and sizes’ striking at Iraqi, Kurdish, US, and French forces.” In Libya, the Special Rapporteur asserts that “The Haftar Armed Forces carried out over 600 drone strikes against opposition targets resulting allegedly in massive civilian casualties, including, in August 2019, against a migrant detention center.” Callamard notes that a ‘nations unwilling or unable to act’ defence – first used by George W Bush’s administration to justify drone strikes in Pakistan and elsewhere – had been employed by several nations, including Turkey and Israel, to justify attacks in Syria. The UN Special Rapporteur also cautions that as more States acquire armed drones, their use domestically has increased: “Turkey has reportedly used drones domestically against the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), while Nigeria first confirmed attack was carried out against a Boko Haram logistics base in 2016. In 2015 Pakistan allegedly used its armed drones for the very first time in an operation to kill three ‘high profile terrorists.’ Iraq has similarly purchased drones to carry out strikes against ISIS in Anbar province in 2016.” Finally, Dr Callamard warns that non-State actors including terrorist groups increasingly have access to remotely piloted technologies – noting that “At least 20 armed non-State actors have reportedly obtained armed and unarmed drone systems.”

“Drones are now the weapon of choice for many countries. They are claimed to be both surgical and to save lives – though we have insufficient evidence to conclude either,” Dr Callamard told Airwars. “Drones may save the lives of ‘our’ soldiers – but on the ground is another matter.”

Civilian harm concerns

The UN Special Rapporteur’s latest report highlights concerns about ongoing risks to civilians from armed drone use. Citing multiple studies, she writes that “even when a drone (eventually) strikes its intended target, accurately and ‘successfully’, the evidence shows that frequently many more people die, sometimes because of multiple strikes.”

Callamard also cautions that “Civilian harm caused by armed drone strikes extends far beyond killings, with many more wounded. While the consequences of both armed and non-combat drones remain to be systematically studied, evidence shows that the populations living under ‘drones’ persistent stare and noise experience generalized threat and daily terror’.”

The UN’s expert on extrajudicial killings additionally notes the key role drones play in helping militaries to determine likely civilian harm: “Without on-the-ground, post-strike assessment, authorities rely on pre- and post-strike drone-video feeds to detect civilian casualties leaving potentially significant numbers of civilian casualties, including of those misidentified as ‘enemies’, undiscovered. Studies showed that in Syria and Iraq the initial military estimates missed 57% of casualties.”

The Special Rapporteur does however point out that civilian harm can be reduced by militaries, “through stronger coordination, improved data analysis, better training of drones’ operators, and systematic evaluation of strikes.”

▲ Aftermath of US drone strike on Baghdad International Airport in January 2020 which assassinated Iranian General Qasem Soleimani (via Arab48).

Incident date

June 10, 2020

Incident Code

LC419

LOCATION

الساعدية, Al Sa'adeh, Tarabulus, Libya

Libya Al Ahrar reported that “the remains of a citizen were found in a civilian car, likely hit by a missile attack in the Al Sa’adeh area by the Haftar militia at the beginning of its aggression on the capital.” Also Burkan Al Ghadab Operation page posted the news saying that “Al-Jafara Security Directorate members

Summary

First published
June 10, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
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 National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

June 8, 2020

Incident Code

LC417

LOCATION

غرب سرت, Western Sirte, Surt, Libya

Five people, including paramedics, were killed in alleged LNA airstrikes with a Russian warplane on western Sirte on June 8th, 2020. Reportedly, GNA vehicles were targeted, including an ambulance. Libya Observer reported that, according to a source within the GNA that “a MiG 29 warplane, which Russia gave to Haftar recently, had raided Libyan Army

Summary

First published
June 8, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 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
Libyan National Army
Suspected target
GNA
Belligerents reported killed
2–3
View Incident

Incident date

June 8, 2020

Incident Code

LC415

LOCATION

جارف: قرارة القزاح, Jarif: Qarara Al Qazzah, Surt, Libya

Seven civilians of the same family, including three children and two women, were killed in alleged LNA airstrikes on their home in Qarara Al Qazah in Al Thalatheen/Jarif area in Jarif on June 8th, 2020, according to local sources. @LibyaCW reported that “the organisation recorded the fall of shells on three houses in Al Thalateen area

Summary

First published
June 8, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(3 children2 women2 men)
Civilians reported injured
6–10
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 belligerents
Libyan National Army, Turkish Military
Suspected target
GNA
Named victims
7 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 2, 2020

Incident Code

LC412

LOCATION

بادرتن, Baderten, Al Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Five men were killed in alleged LNA/UAE drone strikes on the city of Gheryan, Jabal Al Gharbi, on June 2nd, 2020, according to local sources. Simfaro reported that aircraft was hovering over the city for several hours, conducting ten strikes in separate areas. @EbrahimGasuda initially reported the names of three victims as the result of UAE

Summary

First published
June 2, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(5 men)
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 belligerents
Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
5 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 31, 2020

Incident Code

LC410

LOCATION

حي الاندلس, Hay Al Andalus, Tarabulus, Libya

Up to seven civilians were allegedly killed and up to twelve injured by indiscrimiante shelling on the Souq Al Talata area of Tripoli. The Field Medicine and Support Center said three were killed and 11 injured. The GNA-led Burkan Al Ghadab operation posted that five were killed and eight injured, one of which a child

Summary

First published
May 31, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 5
(1 woman2 men)
Civilians reported injured
8–12
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 belligerents
Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
14 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 30, 2020

Incident Code

LC409

LOCATION

قصر بن غشير, Qasr Bin Gashir, Tarabulus, Libya

One civilian was allegedly injured by indiscriminate artillery shelling on Qasr Bin Gashir. Tarhuna 24 said: “Citizen Hamza Al-Barghouth was wounded by shrapnel as a result of a missile landing in Qasr Bin Gashir area, which has been under heavy bombardment for more than a week.” Tk Yahroug Kl shy only reported heavy artillery shelling

Summary

First published
May 30, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerents
Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 28, 2020

Incident Code

LC408

LOCATION

وادي الربيع, Wadi al Rabie, Tarabulus, Libya

One paramedic was allegedly killed by shelling or gunshots in Wadi al Rabie. The Field Medicine and Support Center said: “The Field Medicine and Support Center mourns with great sadness and sorrow the death of our colleague, Dr. Hammam Abu Bakr Hamid, of the field hospital, Tajoura, as a result of him being targeted while

Summary

First published
May 28, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 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 belligerents
Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 28, 2020

Incident Code

LC407

LOCATION

عين زارة, Ain Zara, Tarabulus, Libya

Five civilians were reported injured by LNA shelling on Ain Zara. Tk Yahroug Kl shy posted: “A report from the ambulance and rescue teams in the emergency apparatus reported that shells had fallen on houses in the Ain Zara area, and there are wounded civilians who are now being treated.” The Field Medicine and Support

Summary

First published
May 28, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
5
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 National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
5 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 20, 2020

Incident Code

LC405

LOCATION

الدريبي, Edraiby, Tarabulus, Libya

One civilian was allegedly killed and seven more injured by LNA shelling on the Edraiby neighbourhood of Tripoli. Al Wasat reported: “A spokesman for the Ministry of Health of the National Accord Government confirmed that two Libyan citizens were injured, in addition to five Africans, as a result of the bombing that targeted the Edraiby area

Summary

First published
May 20, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
7
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 National Army
View Incident

Incident date

May 16, 2020

Incident Code

LC401

LOCATION

طرابلس‎: الفرناج, Al Fornaj: University Dormitory, Tarabulus, Libya

Six civilians, including a child, were killed and 17 civilians were injured in alleged Libyan National Army (LNA) artillery strikes on Al Fornaj neighbourhood in Tripoli on May 16th, 2020. According to local sources, the strikes targeted housing units for displaced people at a university campus. The Libya Observer reported that “five people were killed

Summary

First published
May 16, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 7
(1 child4 men)
Civilians reported injured
17
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 National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
22 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 16, 2020

Incident Code

LC400

LOCATION

ميدان الاربعة شوارع, 4 Streets Square, Tarabulus, Libya

One civilian was allegedly injured by shelling on the Hadaba area of Tripoli. Tk Yahrouq Kl shy wrote: “A shell landed in the 4 streets Al Haddad in the Hadaba area, and a civilian was wounded by shrapnel.” There is currently no further information available. Reports of fighting in the area point at GNA or

Summary

First published
May 16, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerents
Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army
View Incident

Incident date

May 15, 2020

Incident Code

LC398

LOCATION

طريق السور, Al Sour road, Tarabulus, Libya

One civilian was allegedly injured by LNA shelling on the Al Sour road area of Tripoli. Libya Alahrar TV wrote: “The media advisor to the Ministry of Health, Al-Amin Al-Hashemi, confirms that the Central Hospital of Tripoli received, today treated a 68-year-old civilian, who was injured as a result of a shell fired by Haftar

Summary

First published
May 15, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Libyan National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

May 15, 2020

Incident Code

LC397

LOCATION

طرابلس‎: الفرناج, Tripoli: Al Fornaj, Tarabulus, Libya

Two civilians were allegedly injured by indiscrimiante shelling on the Fornaj neighbourhood of Tripoli. Hona Souq Al-Khmies reported: “Injury of 2 displaced people, one of whom was seriously injured, and he is now under operations.” Tk Yahroug Kl shy said that several shells landed in the area, including on the Savings and Real Estate Investment

Summary

First published
May 15, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerents
Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

May 13, 2020

Incident Code

LC394

LOCATION

طريق السور, Al Sour road, Tarabulus, Libya

A number of civilians were reported injured in alleged LNA shelling on Az Zawiya street in Tripoli in the midnight on May 14th, 2020 according to local sources. The Libya Observer said: “Militia groups of warlord Khalifa Haftar showered Tripoli Central Hospital and the surrounding residential areas with rockets early on Thursday leaving 14 people

Summary

First published
May 13, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
7
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 National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
7 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 13, 2020

Incident Code

LC393

LOCATION

شارع الزاوية, Al Zawiya street, Tarabulus, Libya

A number of civilians were reported injured in alleged LNA shelling on Az Zawiya street in Tripoli in the midnight on May 14th, 2020 according to local sources. Libya Alahrar TV reported: “Ministry of Health spokesman Fawzi Onis confirms to the Libya Alahrar that the death toll from the bombing of Haftar militias on al-Zawiyah

Summary

First published
May 13, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
7
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 National Army
Named victims
7 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 12, 2020

Incident Code

LC392

LOCATION

الحداد, Al Haddad, Tarabulus, Libya

One woman was reported killed and nine other civilians including four women were injured in alleged LNA shelling on the Al Haddad area in Tripoli, Libya on May 12th, 2020 according to local sources. Tk Yahrouq Kl shy posted “A shell landed on the Haddad area, on the Al Haddad Al Hadaba, which led to

Summary

First published
May 12, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
9
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 National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
10 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 11, 2020

Incident Code

LC388

LOCATION

القداحية, Al Qaddahiyah, Misrata, Libya

One civilian died after his car was targeted with a missile, allegedly fired by LNA or Emirati drones, in Al Qaddahiyah on May 11th, 2020, according to local sources. Four other men were also killed, they were reportedly fighters with the militia of the Amateen martyrs. Burkan Al Ghadab Operation wrote that “Emirates drones targeted

Summary

First published
May 11, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 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 belligerents
Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military
Suspected target
GNA
Named victims
1 named
Belligerents reported killed
4
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident

Incident date

May 9, 2020

Incident Code

LC387

LOCATION

صلاح الدين, Salaheddin, Tarabulus, Libya

One woman was alegedly killed and three civilians were injured by artillery shelling on the Salaheddin neighbourhood of Tripoli. The Field Medicine and Support Center listed the victim and said: “The ambulance team at the Salaheddin field hospital of the Field Medicine and Support Center assisted the family of Muammar Abdel Salam Shaaban at dawn

Summary

First published
May 10, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
3
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerents
Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 9, 2020

Incident Code

LC386

LOCATION

طريق السور, Al Sour Road, Tarabulus, Libya

Six civilians were allegedly killed by LNA shelling on the Al Sour road in Tripoli. Riyadh Burshan posted on Facebook: “Abu Salim Municipal Council: 6 civilians were killed, including a mother and daughter, and dozens were wounded, as a result of the targeting of Haftar militias in the Al Sour road.” Al Arab QA quoted

Summary

First published
May 9, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
(1 child1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
12–24
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 National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

May 9, 2020

Incident Code

LC385

LOCATION

طرابلس‎: باب بن غشير, Tripoli: Bab Ben Gashir, Tarabulus, Libya

Up to six civilians were killed and 12 more injured by alleged LNA shelling on the Bab Ben Gashir area of Tripoli. The Field Medicine and Support Center listed three dead civilians and 12 wounded. Mofida Aldriwi posted the names of four killed and 11 injured. Al Wasat said: “Today, Saturday, the Ministry of Interior

Summary

First published
May 9, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 6
(2 children1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
11–12
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
Libyan National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
16 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 8, 2020

Incident Code

LC383

LOCATION

عين زارة, Ain Zara, Tarabulus, Libya

Four civilians from the same family were allegedly killed by LNA shelling on Ain Zara. Ain Zara speaking said: “I am God, and to him, we shall review the death of Muhammad Abd Al-Salam Al-Tuwati, Abdel-Moneim Al-Tuwati, and Laila Al-Tuwati and Ashraf Al-Tuwati in Ain Zara due to the fall of a Grad missile from

Summary

First published
May 8, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Libyan National Army
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 7, 2020

Incident Code

LC382

LOCATION

زاوية الدهماني , Zawiyat Al Dahmani, Tarabulus, Libya

Up to three civilians were allegedly killed and four more injured by LNA shelling on the Zawiyat Al Dahmani area of Tripoli. Hona Souq Al-Khmies said five shells landed in the area and added: “Two policemen were killed at the Ministry of Interior, including insurance patrols and a civilian. The wounded are 2 civilians, one

Summary

First published
May 7, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
(3 men)
Civilians reported injured
1–4
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
Libyan National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
4 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 6, 2020

Incident Code

LC380

LOCATION

أبو سليم, Abu Salim, Tarabulus, Libya

Up to six civilians were allegedly killed and up to 27 more injured by allegedly LNA shelling on the Abu Salim neighbourhood of Tripoli. Tk Yahrouq Kl shy reported two deaths. Hona Souq Al-Khmies repored two dead and eight injured. The Field Medicine and Support Center said one person was killed and 27 more civilians

Summary

First published
May 6, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 6
(2 men)
Civilians reported injured
8–27
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 National Army
Known target
GNA
Named victims
29 named
View Incident

Incident date

May 6, 2020

Incident Code

LC379

LOCATION

الطريق السريع الساحلي, Coastal Highway, Tarabulus, Libya

Three civilians were reported killed and 19 others including children injured in alleged LNA artillery attack on the coastal road of Tajoura, Libya on May 6th, 2020, according to local sources. Libya Observer reported that “Khalifa Haftar’s forces have carried out indiscriminate rocket attacks on the coastal road in Tajoura, eastern Tripoli, killing three civilians

Summary

First published
May 6, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(3 men)
Civilians reported injured
12–19
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Libyan National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
13 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 5, 2020

Incident Code

LC378

LOCATION

طرابلس‎: الهضبة البدري, Tripoli: Al Hadaba Al Badri, Tarabulus, Libya

A family of three, including a child and a woman, was killed in alleged LNA artillery strikes on their home in Al Hadaba Al Badri on May 5th, 2020, according to local sources. Two other civilians were injured. Libya Observer reported that “on Tuesday [May 5th] night, Haftar’s forces killed an entire family in Al Hadba

Summary

First published
May 5, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 child1 woman1 man)
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
Libyan National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 1, 2020

Incident Code

LC376

LOCATION

جوار جامع نتيفه, Vicinity of Natifa Mosque, Tarabulus, Libya

Two civilians were killed and up to four more injured by LNA shelling on the Zanata neighbourhood of Tripoli. Tk Yahroug Kl shy said: “Sincere condolences to Professor Zahra Bizan on the death of the late God Almighty, her nephew, Youssef Abdel Hamid Bizan, who passed away, and his neighbor, Aqila Borkhis, with a missile

Summary

First published
May 1, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 men)
Civilians reported injured
3–4
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
Libyan National Army
Suspected target
Other
Named victims
5 named
View Incident

Incident date

April 29, 2020

Incident Code

LC374

LOCATION

مطار معيتيقة الدولي: جهاز الطب العسكري, Mitiga Airport: Military Medical Authority Headquarters, Tarabulus, Libya

One civilian was killed and at least five others, including a woman, were killed in alleged LNA artillery strikes on the Military Medical Authority headquarters on the Mitiga airport, Tripoli, on April 29th, 2020. Field Medicine and Support Center reported that “the Military Medical Authority building was hit by indiscriminate shells, which caused the death of

Summary

First published
April 29, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
5–6
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
Libyan National Army
Suspected target
Unknown
Named victims
6 named
View Incident