Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident date

July 20, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-114

LOCATION

صرمان, Surman, Al Zawiyah, Libya

Between 13 and 19 civilians were reportedly killed in a NATO airstrike on Surman. The New York Times published a detailed report of the event: “The Qaddafi government used the strike for propaganda purposes. It claimed as many as 19 civilians were killed and put up portraits of the victims across Tripoli. Khaled offered a

Summary

First published
June 20, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
13 – 19
(5 children4 women3 men)
Civilians reported injured
3–6
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.
Known belligerent
NATO forces
Known target
NATO forces
Named victims
13 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 19, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-111

LOCATION

بيت علي مخر الغراري, House of Ali Mukhar Al Gharari, Tarabulus, Libya

Between five and nine civilians were reported killed in a NATO airstrike on Tripoli. NATO later acknowledged likely causing civilian harm in the event. Amnesty gave a detailed account of the incident in its Libya investigation: “On 19 June 2011 at about 1.30 am the home of Mukhtar al-Gharari, located in a densely built-up area

Summary

First published
June 19, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 9
(2 children1 woman2 men)
Civilians reported injured
18
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
NATO forces
Known targets
Gaddafi forces, Other
Named victims
12 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 18, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-110

LOCATION

مصراتة, Misurata, Misrata, Libya

One woman was reported killed by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling on Misurata. Alia Libya said: “Twelve rockets fell on Saturday morning, June 18, in the eastern neighborhoods of the city of Misurata, and no civilian casualties were reported.” Shorouk News, however, noted: “A missile attack on the same area yesterday killed a woman in her

Summary

First published
June 18, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
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 targets
Libyan rebel forces, Other
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

June 17, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-109

LOCATION

الهبارة, Al Habara , Misrata, Libya

On June 17th 2011, pro-Gaddafi forces shelled the city of Misurata, killing ten including eight named victims and wounding 40, according to Reuters. The status of some of those harmed was unclear. The news agency said: “In Misurata, opposition spokesman Ahmed Hassan said 10 civilians were killed and 40 others wounded when pro-Gaddafi forces bombed

Summary

First published
June 17, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 10
(1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
40
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
8 named
Belligerents reported killed
2–9
Belligerents reported injured
0–40
View Incident

Incident date

May 13, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-093

LOCATION

الرويسات, Roiussat, Misrata, Libya

Eight to ten civilians, including two children, were allegedly killed and several others injured by Gaddafi forces shelling the Rouissat neighbourhood of Misurata. Ahrar Libya said: “An hour ago: Gaddafi forces bombed the Ruwaisat and Nisour al-Jaw villages in Misurata, destroying 5 homes and killing 8 people, including two children.” According to Only4Libya, “the bombing

Summary

First published
May 13, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 10
(2 children1 man)
Civilians reported injured
3
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 targets
Libyan rebel forces, Other
Named victims
7 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

May 4, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-088

LOCATION

مخيم اللاجئين في قصر أحمد, Refugee Camp in Qasr Ahmed, Misrata, Libya

A family was reportedly killed by Gaddafi regime forces artillery shelling of Misurata. Al Jazeera said at the time: “Libya’s revolutionaries said that yesterday’s bombing of the Gaddafi Brigades targeted the port of Misrata in western Libya, leaving at least five civilians dead, at a time when an official at the International Criminal Court spoke

Summary

First published
May 4, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 7
(2 children1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
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 targets
Libyan rebel forces, Other
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

April 14, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-069

LOCATION

مصراتة, Misurata, Misrata, Libya

At least 16 civilians were reportedly killed in indiscriminate shelling by Gaddafi regime forces on Misurata. Human Rights Watch reported: “Libyan government forces have launched indiscriminate rocket and mortar attacks on residential neighborhoods in the rebel-held city of Misrata, Human Rights Watch said today. One strike, apparently by a Grad rocket, killed at least eight

Summary

First published
April 14, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
16 – 23
(4–6 children4–6 women3 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 targets
Libyan rebel forces, Other, Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

April 1, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-057

LOCATION

مرسى البريقة, Brega, Al Wahat, Libya

Between six and seven civilians were reported killed in a NATO airstrike in the outskirts of Brega. The BBC wrote: “A direct hit on an ammunition truck and trailer in a street in Zawia el Argobe sent a hail of shrapnel into nearby houses, [Dr Refardi] said. Four of the dead were female, including three children

Summary

First published
April 1, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 7
(3–4 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
25
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
NATO forces
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
View Incident

Incident date

March 30, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-054

LOCATION

العرقوب, Al Argoub, Al Wahat, Libya

Between seven and ten civilians were allegedly killed and 25 more injured by a NATO airstrike on Al Argoub. The BBC said: “Seven civilians died and 25 were hurt in a coalition air strike on a pro-Gaddafi convoy in eastern Libya, a doctor there has told the BBC. Dr Suleiman Refardi said Wednesday’s raid happened

Summary

First published
March 30, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 10
(6 children2 women2 men)
Civilians reported injured
25
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
NATO forces
Suspected targets
Gaddafi forces, Other
Named victims
10 named
Belligerents reported killed
1
View Incident

Incident date

March 24, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-049

LOCATION

مصراتة, Misurata, Misrata, Libya

A mother and her four children were reportedly killed by Gaddafi regime shelling on Misurata. Al Manara TV noted: “Gaddafi forces on Friday continued to bomb Misurata east of Tripoli, killing one woman and her four children while a doctor at the city hospital on Thursday said 109 martyrs and 1,300 were wounded in a

Summary

First published
March 24, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5
(4 children1 woman)
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
View Incident

Incident date

March 19, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-039

LOCATION

الزاوية‎, Zawiya, Al Zawiyah, Libya

An elderly Palestinian woman was allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces shelling on Zawiya. According to Palestine Book : “The martyrdom of the elderly Palestinian Alamiya Al-Kamoudi, 71 years old, and the wounding of her brother and his wife (residing in Libya), from Al-Bureij camp in the Gaza Strip, as a result of indiscriminate bombing by

Summary

First published
March 19, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
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 target
Other
Named victims
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 17, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-034

LOCATION

كرزاز, Kerzaz, Misrata, Libya

A father was killed and many members of his family injured by Gaddafi forces tank fire in Misurata, according to an Amnesty International investigation. The Amnesty report noted: “In a separate incident a few hours earlier [on March 17th] in the same area, another family came under fire as they were fleeing Kerzaz in three

Summary

First published
March 17, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
5
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected target
Other
Named victims
5 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 4, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-028

LOCATION

الرجمة, Al Rajma, Benghazi, Libya

According to the Daily Telegraph, 19 civilians were killed after explosions in a munitions depot in Ar Rajma near Benghazi. It is unclear whether the incident was caused by an airstrike by the Gaddafi regime. The Telegraph wrote at the time: “The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear, although most local residents ruled

Summary

First published
March 4, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
19
(2 women)
Civilians reported injured
26
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 targets
Libyan rebel forces, Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

December 17, 2009

Incident Code

USYEM002-C

LOCATION

المعجلة, Al Majala, Abyan, Yemen

At least forty-seven civilians, including at least twenty-two children and twelve women, were reportedly killed after a US cruise-missile strike targeted an alleged AQAP training camp on the edge of Al-Majala village, Mahfad district of Abyan governorate, at around 6 AM on December 17th 2009. This was the first known strike in Yemen approved by

Summary

First published
December 17, 2009
Last updated
August 28, 2023
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
47 – 64
(22–23 children12–17 women11–19 men)
Civilians reported injured
23–88
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 belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Named victims
62 named, 11 families identified
Geolocation
Village
Belligerents reported killed
6–24
Belligerents reported injured
4
View Incident

Incident date

May 1, 2008

Incident Code

USSOM007-C

LOCATION

Dusa Marreb, Galguduud, Somalia

At least five and as many as 30 civilians, including children and one woman, were reportedly killed as US-launched missiles targeted and killed several top al Shabab commanders in Dusa Marreb, a Somali village near the Ethiopian border, local and international sources reported. Around 3am local time on May 1st, 2008, US naval-launched cruise missiles

Summary

First published
May 1, 2008
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 30
(2 children1 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 belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
Belligerents reported killed
2–10
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM004-C

LOCATION

Waldena, Lower Juba, Somalia

Up to eight people – some civilians – and one al Qaeda member, were killed as a US drone reportedly targeted, and later captured, a militant leader in Waldena. A fresh JSOC AC-130 strike in Somalia, reportedly operating from an airbase in eastern Ethiopia, targeted Ahmed Madobe, a deputy of ICU leader Hassan Turki. Madobe

Summary

First published
January 23, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 8
(2–3 women)
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 belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Belligerents reported killed
5–9
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident

Incident date

January 8, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM002-C

LOCATION

Hayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

According to international and local reports, up to 31 civilians, including at least one child, were killed as the town of Hayi or Xayo was subjected to either US or Ethiopian-waged airstrikes. Heavy civilian casualties were reported in airstrikes on Hayi near Afmadow, 250km northwest of Ras Kamboni, and other parts of southern Somalia, in

Summary

First published
January 9, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 31
(1 child1 woman1 man)
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
US Forces, Ethiopian Military Forces
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Named victims
1 named
View Incident