Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM012-C

Incident date

July 6, 2011

Location

Afmadow, Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.514539, 42.074264 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In this single-source allegation, an unknown number of people were reportedly killed or wounded in possible US strikes in Afmadow district, as reported by Somalia Report. The source did not mention whether the victims were combatants or civilians.

According to Somalia Report, US drones or planes reportedly hit three al Shabaab militant training camps in Afmadow. “‘Early in the morning and before the sunrise, we heard more than five heavy blasts not far from the town. We believe it was an airstrike,’ said a resident. ‘Minutes later, we saw three military vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed to Kismayo. We believe they were carrying victims of the attack.'”

However, then-Somalia Report editor Michael Logan told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism by email that it was simply not known if US drones were behind this attack. “This is one of those that cannot be confirmed as a drone. Lots of witnesses and a TFG official do confirm an attack, so some kind of strike took place (but as you know, there are a variety of actors capable of launching missiles),” he said.

Somali deputy defence minister Abdirashid Mohamed Hidig said at the time, while confirming that airstrikes had occurred, that: “The foreigners and senior officials of the terrorist group are afraid. They secretly hide amongst the civilians. The airstrikes will continue until we minimize the enemy from our country.” Dr. Omar Ahmed, an academic and Somali politician, told Somalia Report that such airstrikes would increase local support for al Shabaab: “There is no reason for the western countries to use airstrikes against al-Shabaab. It will only increase the generations supporting al Shabaab.”

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–3

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Original Somalia Report copy via Wayback

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in Afmadoow, for which the generic coordinates are: 0.514539, 42.074264. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–3

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-123

Incident date

July 6, 2011

Location

الدفنية, Al Dafiniyah, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.385280, 14.818333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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 were killed by Grad rockets, reporting 14 rebel fighters killed and 42 other injured. Al-Alam TV reported 16 dead and more than 50 injured, although it was unclear how many of each were civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    14–16
  • Belligerents reported injured
    50

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Dafiniyah (الدفنية), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.385280, 14.818333. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Dafiniyah (الدفنية).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    14–16
  • Belligerents reported injured
    50

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM021-C

Incident date

July 5, 2011

Location

جعار, Jaar, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.217814, 45.307025 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

13.211636, 45.308129 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and six civilians were killed and up to seven others were injured in alleged Yemeni or US airstrikes on Ja’ar on July 5, 2011. Four militants were also reportedly killed.

The numbers of dead and wounded varied, as @NoonArabia tweeted that three civilians were killed and seven people were wounded. According to @AdenLang, the death toll in the bombing rose to six after the death of three of the civilians that were wounded.

An air strike hit the house of Deputy Chairman of Parliament, Ali Al-Shaddadi, in Ja’ar on July 5, 2011 and according to Abdullah Al-Maiseri, two civilians were killed. Abdulkader Al-Guneid (@alguneid) tweeted that two Shaddadi brothers were killed in the strike, while Yusra A @YusraAIA tweeted that Al-Shaddadi’s brother-in-law was killed.

Sahafanet reported that according to the Al-Arabiya correspondent, deputy speaker of the Yemeni parliament Muhammad al-Shaddadi’s home was hit with airstrikes, killing three of his relatives and wounding seven others.

Al-Guneid also stated that the Health Institute building was hit with four people wounded, while Sahafanet stated that the health institute located next to Al-Razi Hospital was struck and led to the killing of four militants affiliated with jihadist Sami Dayan.

Multiple tweets from local sources, including @YusraAlA and @NoonArabia, directly alleged that the US carried out drone strike in Jaar on the same date.

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
    2 – 6
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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 attackers
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jaar (جعار), for which the generic coordinates are: 13.217814, 45.307025. Sources also mention the Al Razi Hospital (مستشفى الرازي), for which the generic coordinates are: 13.211636, 45.308129. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Yemeni Air Force Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Yemeni Air Force position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 6
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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 attackers
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-122

Incident date

July 5, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

32.350541, 15.032818 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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 were killed and 57 wounded Tuesday in the bombing of the Gaddafi Brigades on the city of Misrata in western Libya.”

Multiple sources reported the bombings, while @AJABreaking reported “at least 5 rebels were killed in the Qadhafi Brigades’ bombings.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–11
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–57

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misrata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.350541, 15.032818. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–11
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–57

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-121

Incident date

June 29, 2011

Location

دوفان, Doufan, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

32.374457, 15.087794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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 sources confirmed the shelling, as well as civilian casualties. A video from Al Smood Libya showed an interview following the shelling, and showed several images reported to have been a result of the bombings.

A Facebook post by Farag Akwadir stated “The brigades were concentrated in the Dofan area south of Misrata. The shelling and bombardment were directed at civilian neigborhoods and distroyed several homes and other civilian properties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Moftah Muhammad Jalwal مفتاح محمد جلوال
13 years old male killed
Ahmed Abu Zeid Shahban أحمد ابوزيد شهبان.
Age unknown male injured
Adnan Baiyou عدنان بعيو.
Age unknown male injured
Ahmed Al-Salihi أحمد الصالحي
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • An interview with an unnamed man, showing the aftereffects of the bombing on Misrata. Also shows an image of the one thirteen year old reported killed as part of the bombing. Video from the Al Somood libya Youtube channel, dated June 29, 2011.
  • A video showing a visit to a hospital ward and injured children, reported to be the aftermath of the June 29 2011 bombing on Misrata. Several injured children are shown, as well as an interview with an unnamed man, and a recording of a conversation of a child, reported to be Moftah Muhammad Jalwal, who was killed during the bombings. Video from the Bengazi 17 feb Youtube channel, dated June 30, 2011.
  • An image of the body of Moftah Muhammad Jalwal, a thirteen year old boy killed in the bombings on Misrata. Image is dated June 30, 2011, taken from the Bengazi 17 feb Youtube channel.
  • An image of the body of Moftah Muhammad Jalwal, a thirteen year old boy killed in the bombings on Misrata. Image is dated June 29, 2011, taken from the Al Somood libya Youtube channel.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Doufan (دوفان) neighborhood, allegedly in the south of Misurata (الغيران) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Misurata are: 32.374457, 15.087794.

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM011

Incident date

June 28, 2011

Location

Taabta, Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.305181, 41.440288 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a news feature looking at drone strikes in Somalia, Somalia Report stated that on this day, “another [US] attack occurred in Taabta village in the Afmadow District of Lower Juba.” The report indicated that the target was al Shabaab.

“AFRICOM does have terrorism in its list of applications and as of June JSOC’s hunter killers have been quietly tucked up inside the brass bloated command. On April 6th [2011] shortly after the exploitation of data from captured al qaeda cel phones and laptops, three dozen al shabaab members were killed. On June 24th, helos from Camp Simba took out a Shabaab convoy 4 days later another attack occurred in Taabta village in the Afmadow District of Lower Juba.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the village of Taabta, for which the coordinates are: 0.305181, 41.440288. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-120

Incident date

June 28, 2011

Location

تاورغاء, Tawergha, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.017169, 15.058388 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A NATO airstrike reportedly killed eight civilians in Tawergha.

Press TV reported: “A NATO warplane has targeted a market in the Libyan town of Tawragha, leaving at least eight civilians dead and several others wounded.

Some of the injured are in critical condition, Xinhua reported on Wednesday, citing a local news agency.

NATO carried out the airstrike on Tawragha, 300 km east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Tuesday amid reports that NATO warplanes were hovering over Tajura, another town 20 km east of Tripoli on the same day.”

Abbas Mansour said that “NATO bombed a vegetable market, a desalination center, and a two-storey house in Tawergha.”

Other sources said that the incident took place near the vegetable market and posted pictures and names of victims.

Tripoli Street denied that the incident happened and accused the people of lying.

NATO did not report airstrikes around Tawergha on that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Faraj Ramadan Muhammad Faraj Allah
Age unknown male killed
Muhammad Ramadan Muhammad Faraj Allah
Age unknown male killed
Ramadan Faraj Ramadan Muhammad Faraj Allah
Age unknown male killed
Islam Faraj Ramadan Muhammad Faraj Allah
Age unknown male killed
Jafool Aqeelah Muhammad Aqoub
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Tariq Ashour Qassem
Adult male killed
Rizkallah Moftah Rizkallah
Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Image of victims allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Tawergha on June 28, 2011 (via Alrasid Altawerghy)
  • Another picture of Tariq Ashour Qassem, allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Tawergha on June 28, 2011 (via Alrasid Altawerghy)
  • Rizkallah Moftah Rizkallah, allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Tawergha on June 28th, 2011 (via Youth for Tawergha)
  • Rizkallah Moftah Rizkallah, allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Tawergha on June 28th, 2011 (via Youth for Tawergha)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rizkallah Moftah Rizkallah, allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Tawergha on June 28th, 2011 (via Youth for Tawergha)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tawergha (تاورغاء), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.017169, 15.058388. 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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-117

Incident date

June 25, 2011

Location

مرسى البريقة, Brega, Al Wahat, Libya

Geolocation

30.411123, 19.570076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A NATO airstrike on Brega killed 15 civilians, according to Gaddafi regime television.

Sky News Australia wrote: “NATO strike in eastern Libya kills 15 – Libyan TV says a NATO air strike in the town of Brega has killed 15 people”.

Emirates247 provided a more detailed report: “Libyan state television said a Nato air strike on ‘civilian sites’ in the eastern town of Brega killed 15 people and wounded more than 20, a claim promptly denied by the alliance.

‘The colonialist crusader Atlantic coalition bombed civilian sites, among them a bakery and a restaurant in Brega, creating 15 martyrs and more than 20 wounded, among them regular clients of those places,’ the TV said.”

Other sources also referred to the state television as a source.

NATO itself reported hitting “2 Tanks, 1 Logistic Truck, 6 Technical Vehicles, 3 Military Shelters, 4 Military Compounds, 1 Antenna” near Brega on June 25 without mentioning civilian harm.

Independent monitors assessed that civilian casualty numbers provided by the Gaddafi regimed during the NATO campaign were hugely inflated or fabricated.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video showing the alleged victims of the strike
  • Another video report on the incident

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Brega (البريقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.411123, 19.570076. 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 Brega: 7 Command & Control Nodes, 1 Military Storage Facility, 14 Truck-Mounted Guns, 1 Tank, 2 Armoured Personnel Carriers, 3 Logistic Trucks, 7 Military Shelters.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]