All Belligerents in Libya, 2011

Mourners in Majer, Libya in 2011 following a NATO airstrike which killed at least 34 civilians, according to multiple reports. Image courtesy of Sidney Kwiram/ Human Rights Watch

Belligerent
Country
Libya
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident date

May 13, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-092

LOCATION

مرسى البريقة, Brega, Al Wahat, Libya

Between 11 and 16 civilians were reported killed in a NATO airstrike on Brega. Both the BBC and the Washington Post said that eleven clerics were killed in the attack, while Reuters noted that “Nine imams were among 11 people killed in a strike on a guest house in the eastern city of Brega on Friday,

Summary

First published
May 13, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
11 – 16
(9–11 men)
Civilians reported injured
50
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 targets
Gaddafi forces, Other
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

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

July 30, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-131

LOCATION

طرابلس‎, Tripoli, Tarabulus, Libya

Three journalists were reportedly killed in a NATO airstrike on Tripoli. SBS News tweeted: “Three journalists have reportedly been killed in a NATO air strike while on state television in Libya.” Uruknet wrote: “Libya says three journalists have been killed in a NATO air strike on state television, and that the murder of the rebels’

Summary

First published
July 30, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
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.
Known belligerent
NATO forces
Known target
Gaddafi forces
View Incident

Incident date

August 5, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-135

LOCATION

مسكن مصطفى ناجي المرابط, Mustafa Naji Al Morabit, Marqab, Libya

Two children and their mother were allegedly killed in a NATO airstrike on Zliten. The Telegraph said: “Residents from the town said the strike happened just after 6am, killing brothers Mohammed, three, and Moataz, five, and their mother Ibtisam. Moussa Ibrahim, Libyan government spokesman, accused Nato of bombing civilian targets frequently. He said: In the

Summary

First published
August 5, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(2 children1 woman)
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.
Known belligerent
NATO forces
Known target
Gaddafi forces
Named victims
4 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

August 31, 2018

Incident Code

LC086

LOCATION

طرابلس: فندق الودان, Tripoli: Al Wadan hotel, Tarabulus, Libya

On Friday, August 31, 2018, three civilians were reportedly injured from artillery shelling on the Al Wadan hotel in Tripoli, Libya. Sky News reported the hotel in the centre of Tripoli was bombed “indiscriminately”, injuring at least three people amid fighting between rival militias aspiring to take power in the Libyan capital. The rocket hit

Summary

First published
August 31, 2018
Last updated
June 27, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
3
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, 7th Brigade
View Incident

Incident date

August 8, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-137

LOCATION

مجمعات قفوز وجرود السكنية, Gafuz and Jarud residential compounds, Marqab, Libya

Between 34 and 85 civilians were allegedly killed in NATO airstrikes on the Majer area of Zliten. The event marks the biggest reported loss of civilian life from NATO strikes during the first Libyan Civil War. An Amnesty International field investigation found: “On the evening of 8 August 2011 two houses were struck in Majer

Summary

First published
August 8, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
34 – 85
(8–33 children8–32 women18–20 men)
Civilians reported injured
32–38
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
Gaddafi forces
Named victims
34 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

June 20, 2015

Incident Code

LC018b

LOCATION

النوفلية, Nofaliya, Sirte, Libya

On Saturday, June 20, 2015, one civilian was reportedly killed in an alleged General National Congress/Libya Dawn airstrike on a power station in Nofaliya, in the Sirte district of Libya. Russeifa News reported in a post on Facebook that Libya Dawn military aircraft strikes the electricity building in the Nofaliya area, resulting the death of

Summary

First published
June 20, 2018
Last updated
June 27, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
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 belligerent
General National Congress (GNC)
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

September 15, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-162

LOCATION

الحي رقم 2, Neighbourhood No 2, Surt, Libya

Between 30 and 64 civilians were allegedly killed in a NATO airstrike on neighbourhood No 2 in Sirte. Mustafa Al Fitouri wrote in his book, naming 46 civilians: “The seventh air strike took place in Sirte on 15th September at 7pm where the warplanes targeted a gathering of civilian vehicles inside and near it a

Summary

First published
September 15, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
30 – 64
(2 children4 women27 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.
Known belligerent
NATO forces
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
Named victims
64 named, 3 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 14, 2015

Incident Code

LC014a

LOCATION

العسة, Al Assah, An Nuqat al Khams, Libya

On Saturday, March 14, 2015, one man named Alaa Belkhair was reported killed and six people were injured in an alleged Libyan National Army airstrike on Al Assah near Zuwara, northwestern Libya. Zuwara News wrote on Facebook that “an aeroplane just hit the Al-Assah area and resulted in the death of one man from Misurata

Summary

First published
March 14, 2015
Last updated
June 27, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
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 belligerent
Libyan National Army
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

November 29, 2018

Incident Code

LC099

LOCATION

العوينات, Al Uwaynat, Ghat, Libya

Eleven civilians were reported killed as a result of a US airstrike near Al Uwaynat. The event marks the biggest single allegation of civilian harm against the United States in Libya so far. Initial reports had indicated that the US had targeted Al Qaeda members with a precision strike near the town in the south

Summary

First published
November 29, 2018
Last updated
April 28, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 11
(11 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Named victims
11 named
View Incident

Incident date

April 22, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-073

LOCATION

باب العزيزية, Bab Al Azizia, Tarabulus, Libya

Three civilians were reported killed in a NATO airstrike near Tripoli. Breaking News posted on Twitter: “Libya update: 3 die when NATO airstrike hits parking lot at Gadhafi compound in Tripoli – Govt. spokesman via Reuters.” Other sources published similar news, referring back to the government spokesperson. The Huffington post reported that the area was

Summary

First published
April 22, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
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.
Known belligerent
NATO forces
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
View Incident

Incident date

April 30, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-081

LOCATION

الساحة الخضراء, Green Square, Tarabulus, Libya

Several members of the Gaddafi family were reported to have been killed by a NATO airstrike on Tripoli. While Saif al-Arab Gaddafi, son of Muammar Gaddafi, was reportedly a member of the military, his children clearly had non-combatant status due to their young age. CNN reported: “The Libyan government said Sunday that Gadhafi’s son, Saif

Summary

First published
April 30, 2011
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(3 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.
Known belligerent
NATO forces
Suspected target
Gaddafi forces
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident