Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

Lib2011-165

Incident date

September 16, 2011

Location

الحي رقم 3, Neighbourhood No. 3, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.204873, 16.600943 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A boy and his mother were killed by NATO bombing in the third residential area in Sirte in September 16th 2011.

Various condolence pages reported their death without providing further details.

NATO on that day reported striking “5 Command and Controle Nodes, 3 Radar Systems, 4 Armed Vehicles, 8 Air Missile Systems” near Sirte.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Gabriel Abdul Rahim Muhammad Asbaka al-Qaddafi al-Wumli جبريل عبدالرحيم محمد اسباقة القدافي الوملي
Child male 8 years old killed
Amsoura Abu Bakr Abdullah Al-Mabrouk Al-Jahsh أمصوره ابوبكر عبدالله المبروك الجحش
Adult killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • An image of Gabriel Abdul Rahim Muhammad Asbaka al-Wumli Al-Qaddafi who was killed in Sirte in September 16th 2011 (via Sirte martyrs)
  • "A memorial picture of Amsoura Abu Bakr Abdullah Al-Mabrouk Al-Jahsh who was killed in Sirte in September 16th 2011 (the date is documented in the image) - (via The Martyer Mu’tsem Billah Al Gaddafi Facebook page)"
  • Card translation Name: Gabriel Abd al-Rahim Muhammad Asbaqa al-Qaddafi al-Wumli Date and place of birth: 2003, Sirte city Died in September 16th 2011 in Sirte
  • Card translation Name:Amsoura Abu Bakr Abdullah Al-Mabrouk Al-Jahsh Date and place of birth: 1969, Tarhunah Died in September 16th 2011 in Sirte
  • An image of Gabriel Abdul Rahim Muhammad Asbaka al-Wumli Al-Qaddafi (8 years old) who was killed by the NATO in Sirte in September 16th 2011 (via Khamis Al Gaddafi Al Qawaseem Facebook post)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the third neighbourhood (الحي رقم 3) of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.204873, 16.600943. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the third neighbourhood (الحي رقم 3) of Sirte (سرت‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Gaddafi Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Gaddafi Forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Sirte: 5 Command and ControleNodes, 3 Radar Systems, 4 Armed Vehicles, 8 Air Missile Systems.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-166

Incident date

September 16, 2011

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.190547, 16.571441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were allegedly killed by Rebel forces shelling on Sirte.

A UN report stated: “Thuwar forces used Grad rockets, artillery shells and RPGs, as well as small and medium calibre weapons in their assault on Sirte. They launched barrages of Grad rockets hitting residential areas like Area 1, Hay al-Dollar, and Montaza. Residents told the Commission that the area was hit by projectiles in mid-September 2011.  Civilian casualties were reported by local residents and independent observers. The Commission visited houses in the neighbourhood of Montaza, examining damage and shrapnel, consistent with the use of Grad rockets.”

@khaled19977 tweeted: “Libyan revolutionaries enter Sirte and Bani Walid, and Gaddafi Brigades members are killed.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.190547, 16.571441. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan rebel forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Libyan rebel forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM013-C

Incident date

September 15, 2011

Location

Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

-0.355651, 42.545703 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that nine civilians died in alleged US drone strikes on Kismayo.

According to the source Antiwar.com, “Eyewitnesses in the southern Somali port city of Kismayo have reported a number of missile strikes, apparently fired by US drones in and around the city. Terrified residents say that several loud explosions were heard in the area.

“The militant faction al-Shabaab, which is in control of the area, says the drones hit on the outskirts of the town and killed at least nine civilians, including women and children. 30 others were reported wounded in the strikes.”

AFP reported that residents of Kismayo heard “the sound of aircraft and heavy explosions… We heard planes flying over Kismayo and minutes later there were at least three explosions,” resident Mohamed Ali told AFP by phone. “The aircraft fired heavy missiles into a jungle area where the Shebab established training camps, but we don’t know more,” Abdikarim Samow, another resident, told AFP.

Armed drones were operating from Mahe in the Seychelles (along with those used purely for surveillance), the Washington Post reported: “In the Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean…a small fleet of ‘hunter-killer’ drones resumed operations this month after an experimental mission demonstrated that the unmanned aircraft could effectively patrol Somalia from there.”

Seychelles foreign minister Jean-Paul Adam denied the drones were armed. However, a 2009 diplomatic cable stated the US “would seek discrete [sic], specific discussions … to gain approval’ to arm the Reapers in the Seychelles ‘should the desire to do so ever arise”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–30
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–30

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted a jungle or the outskirts of Kismayo. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the precise location of the strike. The generic coordinates for the city Kismayo are: -0.355651, 42.545703.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–30
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–30

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-163

Incident date

September 15, 2011

Location

الزعفران , Al Za’fran, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.206893, 16.550209 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the September 15th 2011, the NATO bombed a house in Al Zafaran neighbourhood in Sirte which resulted in the death of a family consisting of four people.

This information was according to a post by Nour Al Din Nasser Al Zanki on Facebook who named the victims.

NATO on that reported striking “In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Military Storage Facility, 2 Armed Vehicles, 1 Tank, 4 Multiple Rocket Launchers, 8 Air Missile Systems” near Sirte.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Zahra Adam Muhammad Adam Al-Hamali زهرة آدم امحمد آدم الهمالي
19 years old female killed
Adam Muhammad Adam Al-Hamali آدم امحمد آدم الهمالي
Adult male killed
Enas Adam Muhammad Adam Al-Hamali ايناس آدم امحمد آدم الهمالي
15 years old killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Za’fran neighbourhood (الزعفران), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.206893, 16.550209. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Al Za’fran neighbourhood (الزعفران).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Military Storage Facility, 2 Armed Vehicles, 1 Tank, 4 Multiple Rocket Launchers, 8 Air Missile Systems.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child1 woman2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-161

Incident date

September 13, 2011

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.886602, 13.190912 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one man was killed in Tripoli by rebels on September 13, 2011 according to the UN Report Source Page 83.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.886602, 13.190912. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan rebel forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Libyan rebel forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-185

Incident date

September 28, 2011

Location

سرت, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.190547, 16.571441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One source shows several people who are injured due to the NATO strike inside a hospital in Sirte and the doctors trying to revive them.

The video posted by Surt Son is captured “The death of dozens of civilians in Sirte a result of NATO bombing and the rebels to revive the city.”

NATO itself said it bombed “1 ammunition / vehicle storage facility, 1 staging and firing location, 1 command and control node and staging area, 2 ammunition and missile facilities, 1 tank” in the vicinity of Sirte on that day.

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    NATO forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The video is capturing civilians who have been injured and killed as a result of the allegedly NATO strike in Sirte on September 28th, 2011 (via Surt Son)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.190547, 16.571441. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 ammunition / vehicle storage facility,1staging and firing location, 1command and control node and staging area, 2 ammunition and missile facilities, 1tank.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    NATO forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM035-B

Incident date

September 7, 2011

Location

المحفد, Al Mahfed, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

14.059345, 46.915427

Airwars assessment

An alleged US Predator drone strike struck a makeshift Al Qaeda checkpoint in Mihfed, Abyan Province killing up to 10 members of Al Qaeda and wounding as many as dozens more. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm.

AFP reported that a local security official said that the US drone strike had killed three militants and wounded two more, while @Sada_Aden tweeted that two were killed in the “American raid”.

Meanwhile, Xinhua reported that “10 Al Qaeda militants were killed and dozens of others were injured” on the evening of September 7th when a US drone struck “several targets” in Abyan.

Xinhua said that Predator drones “bombed an abandoned hotel and a primary school on the eastern outskirts of Jaar city” in Abyan, and that local residents in Jaar said that dozens of families have fled to nearby provinces of Aden and Lahj, “fearing renewed botched air strikes by the Yemeni air forces and the US drones”.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–10
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2–24

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Mahfed (المحفد), for which the generic coordinates are: 14.059345, 46.915427. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–10
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2–24

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-159

Incident date

September 7, 2011

Location

ابالحنيوة, Al Haniyah, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.018033, 16.919868 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was reported killed by a NATO or Rebel forces airstrike on the Al Haniyeh neighbourhood of Sirte.

Nour Al Din Nasser Al Zanki said that “he suffered full body and face burns, cut wounds to the right leg, and amputation of a toe on the right foot. He died several days later.”

Sirte martyrs reported: “The martyr Abu Nawf and his father, the martyr Abu Ajila Al-Jayer Abu Nawf Al-Tarshani Al-Gaddafi, Abu Nawf was martyred on 07/09 2011 as a result of his injury in the Al-Haniyeh area and died of surgery in Ibn Sina Hospital”. It is unclear whether his father also deceased in the attack.

NATO on that day reported hitting “5 Armoured Fighting Vehicles, 2 Armed Vehicles” in the vicinity of Sirte.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abushnaf Abu Ajila
12 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 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 attackers
    NATO forces, Libyan rebel forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abushnaf Abu Ajila, allegedly killed in NATO or Rebel forces airstrike on Sirte on September 7th, 2011 (via Surt Son)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village Al Haniyah (ابالحنيوة) named after the valley stretching to the north, for which the generic coordinates are: 31.018033, 16.919868. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Libyan rebel forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Libyan rebel forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 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 attackers
    NATO forces, Libyan rebel forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]