Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

Lib2011-054

Incident date

March 30, 2011

Location

العرقوب, Al Argoub, Al Wahat, Libya

Geolocation

30.315587, 19.680170 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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 in the village of Zawia el Argobe, 15km (9 miles) from Brega. The strike hit a truck carrying ammunition, and the resulting explosion destroyed two nearby homes. All the dead were between the ages of 12 and 20, Dr Refardi said. Nato says it is investigating the claim.”

The source added: “Dr Refardi told the BBC that the Libyan government convoy had included tanks, artillery and trucks carrying ammunition. A direct hit on an ammunition truck and trailer in a street in Zawia el Argobe sent a hail of shrapnel into nearby houses, he said. Four of the dead were female, including three children from the same family, aged between 12 and 16, the BBC’s Ben Brown reports from Brega. Three boys, aged between 14 and 20, were also killed.”

Various local condolence pages named ten victims and posted pictures of them. Alkhdra posted the name of one combatant killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hajar Hamid Muhammad Saad Al-Madham Al-Maghribi
Child female killed
Amraji Musa Sa`id Al-Amma Al-Maghribi
Adult male killed
Abd al-Mawla Nasr Ali Muhammad Moamen Qadum al-Maghribi
Child male killed
Asma Muhammad Imran Younis Al-Huni Al-Maghribi
Child female killed
Hana Muhammad Imran Younis Al-Huni
Child female killed
Haniyeh Saeed Musa Saeed Al-Ami
Child female killed
Yunus Ali Muhammad Moamen
Adult male killed
Umm Shnaf Muhammad Imran Yunus
Adult female killed
Salama Abdullah Hasan Askar Bu Khamada
Adult female killed
Faraj Al-Mabrouk Ali Muhammad Moamen
Child male killed

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • Alleged victim of NATO airstrike on Al Argoub on March 30th, 2011 (via ANVWL)
  • Alleged victim of NATO airstrike on Al Argoub on March 30th, 2011 (via ANVWL)
  • Alleged victim of NATO airstrike on Al Argoub on March 30th, 2011 (via ANVWL)
  • Alleged victim of NATO airstrike on Al Argoub on March 30th, 2011 (via ANVWL)
  • Alleged victims of NATO airstrike on Al Argoub on March 30th, 2011 (via Glory to martyrs)
  • Alleged victim of NATO airstrike on Al Argoub on March 30th, 2011 (via Lailat Elfatah)
  • Abdul Hakim Muhammad Al-Zarrouk, likely a soldier killed by NATO airstrike on Al Argoub on March 30th, 2011 (via Alkhdra)
  • Interview with the injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Argoub (العرقوب), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.315587, 19.680170. 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 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 attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-055

Incident date

March 30, 2011

Location

خوروم, Khorum, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

32.169687, 13.019377 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A toddler, the 18-months old Sirajuddin al-Sweisi, was reportedly killed in a NATO airstrike on Brega.

The Boston News wrote: “Nizha Abdel-Salam and her family say her 18-month old son Sirajuddin al-Sweisi was killed when debris pierced the wall of their home as NATO airstrikes hit an ammunition [dump] near their village of Khorum early Tuesday morning.
‘The house shook and there was so much dust everywhere we couldn’t see in front of us,’ she said.

“The family’s account of the child’s death could not be independently confirmed. The Libyan government says more than 100 people have been killed by airstrikes since the international campaign began on March 19. It says the number includes civilians and military personnel, but it has not provided a breakdown.”

In addition, it was mentioned that “some neighbors said there were injuries, but the only death in the town was young al-Sweisi.”

Various sources on social media also reported the death of the infant.

The incident occured at approximately 6:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Sirajuddin al-Sweisi
1 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Khorum (خوروم), allegedly located within the vicinity of Gheryan (غريان). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Gheryan are: 32.169687, 13.019377.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-053

Incident date

March 30, 2011

Location

تاجوراء , Tajoura, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.830319, 13.383189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 40 civilians were killed in Tajoura by a NATO airstrike, according to a senior Vatican official based in Tripoli at the time.

Reuters reported on the incident: “At least 40 civilians have been killed in air strikes by Western forces on Tripoli, the top Vatican official in the Libyan capital said Thursday, citing what he called reliable sources in close contact with residents.”

It further stated: “NATO said it was investigating Martinelli’s report but had no confirmation of civilian casualties in Tripoli.

Martinelli earlier told Catholic news agency Fides that the 40 civilians were killed in Buslim, but he later corrected the district to Tajoura, saying he had confused the names of the two neighbourhoods.

He said his information on the killings came from “people who work with us, who have many contacts with residents, who are on the ground and know the situation very well.”

Al Jazeera tweeted that a residential area in Tripoli was bombed according to Libyan TV. And DP News posted pictures of “Libyan victims” but did not state if they were killed in this particular incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40
  • 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
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Images of victims possibly killed in the incident (via DP News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tajoura (تاجوراء), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.830319, 13.383189. 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 status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40
  • 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
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-051

Incident date

March 28, 2011

Location

مصراتة‎, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

On March 27th 2011, Gaddafi forces reportedly bombed Misurata either with airstrikes or artillery shelling, which resulted in wounded civilians being treated in a hospital, according to a video published by a single local source.

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: "Recording of the wounded civilians in Misrata after Gaddafi forces bombed the city on Monday, March 28, 2011" (via Adel Sunalla)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misurata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.374457, 15.087794. 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-050

Incident date

March 27, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

On March 27th 2011, Gaddafi forces were reported to have indiscriminately bombed Misurata city using airstrikes or artillery shelling which led to at least three civilian deaths and also injured others, according to a single known source.

Al Jazeera, citing AFP, reported: “The same agency quoted a doctor as saying that three people were killed on Saturday, which raises to 117 the death toll since March 18 in the attack by Gaddafi forces on this city, which is the third largest city in the country and the most important city controlled by the rebels in the west.”

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misurata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.374457, 15.087794. 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-049

Incident date

March 24, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

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 week in the city. ‘There is no electricity or water, and the city is starting to lack everything,’ another witness said.'”

No additional sources are known for this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misurata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.374457, 15.087794. 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
    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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-048

Incident date

March 23, 2011

Location

الزنتان, Zintan, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

31.930396, 12.250838 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and ten civilians were killed and 26 more injured in air and artillery shelling by Gaddafi forces on Zintan, according to Al Jazeera.

The news outlet reported: “Six civilians were killed in a bombardment carried out today by the Gaddafi Brigades on the city of Zintan, and the bombing cut off electricity and communications completely from the city, while a British military commander announced the destruction of the Libyan air force.

The spokesman of the National Transitional Council in Libya, Abdel-Hafiz Ghouta, told a news conference in Benghazi that Gaddafi’s battalions continued to bombard the city of Zintan, which was controlled by the rebels and 90 kilometers southwest of the capital Tripoli, pointing out that the indiscriminate shelling of the city yesterday killed 10 people and wounded 26 others.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Zintan (الزنتان), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.930396, 12.250838. 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-047

Incident date

March 23, 2011

Location

كلية الهندسة العسكرية, College of Military Engineering, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.867559, 13.412167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were reportedly killed in a NATO airstrike on Tajoura, east of Tripoli.

BBC Arabic said at the time: “Libyan officials early on Thursday took a group of journalists to a hospital in Tripoli to see what they said were 18 charred corpses of soldiers and civilians killed in coalition raids overnight. Western planes bombed a military base and areas east of the capital Tripoli for the fifth consecutive day of military operations. The Libyan news agency said earlier that the coalition aircraft targeted a residential neighborhood east of Tripoli, which caused ‘a large number of civilian deaths.'”

Arabic people reported: “A large number of Libyan and wounded civilians and paramedics targeted by Western coalition raids were seen in a residential neighbourhood of Tajoura district in the eastern suburb of Tripoli on Friday morning.

The bodies, which arrived at Tripoli Central Hospital, appeared charred; Some of the other bodies, which were torn apart as a result of the western raids, arrived, according to the official news agency (Auj).”

Arabic People added that the incident took place near the College for Military Engineering.

RT Arabic tweeted: “Libyan television: Civilians killed in raids by international forces on Libya.” In a video piece it also showed various bodies of alleged victims.

An article in The Telegraph later seemed to contest civilian casualties near Tajoura, likely referring to this incident: “Officials have been unable to identify areas where large numbers of civilians died, and admitted that the figure of 100 deaths included cadets at military academies, at least one of which on a base in Tajoura was said to have been struck.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 16
  • (2 children)
  • 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
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    NATO forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video piece allegedly showing the aftermath and victims of the attack
  • Image of the alleged airstrike (via Arabic People)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention multiple strikes within the vicinity of the College of Military Engineering (كلية الهندسة العسكرية) located in the neighbourhood of Tajoura (تاجوراء). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the College of Military Engineering are: 32.867559, 13.412167.

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 – 16
  • (2 children)
  • 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
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    NATO forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]