Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

LC014

Incident date

February 15, 2015

Location

درنة‎: شيحة, Shiha, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.760918, 22.621526 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various sources reported that Egyptian airstrikes hit two locations in East Derna. One strike hit the Bab Shiha neighbourhood, another one the former headquarters of the Jabal al-Akhdar Industrial Company.
Local and international sources reported that seven civilians were killed, including three or four children and a woman – plus up to 50 members of ISIS.

Human Rights Watch named the victims as:

“[…] a mother, Rabiha al-Mansouri, and three of her four children, Afraa, Zakaria, and Huthaifa al-Karshoufi, who died when a missile hit their home. Others were Osama al-Shteiwi, a student who was watching from the roof of his home, who was hit by shrapnel; Attia Bousheiba al-Shaari, who died after the front of his house collapsed on him; and Hanan Faraj al-Drissi, who was on the roof of her home when a missile struck the street in front.” Human Rights Watch further investigated the case and spoke to family members recounting the incident. It added 17 people were injured in the attack.

After investigating the case, Amnesty International came to the conclusion that Egypt didn’t take the precautions necessary to prevent civilian casualties in the attack.

According to Libya Alkhabar, “Al-Huraish hospital in Derna city received seven dead people, including four children, a woman and two men, in addition to a number of wounded, in the bombing of areas in the city by the Egyptian airforce.
The Egyptian air force targeted the eastern entrance of the city on Monday morning after five of its aircraft launched air strikes on it.

The Egyptian forces said in a televised statement that the bombing targeted camps, stores, training points and the headquarters of the Islamic state organization. The statement added that the operation was a ‘revenge’ on those who published the video that showed the killing of 21 Egyptians slaughtered, and attributed to the Islamic State in Libya.”

Noon Post, who also put the death toll at seven, added that as many as 21 more civilians were wounded in the event. Civilian homes were also reportedly destroyed.

Ean Libya tweeted images of three dead children.

Bawabat Alwasat said that 40-50 “militants” were also killed in the bombings – through the source quoted Libyan air force chief Major General Saqr al-Jaroushi, who claimed that “the houses targeted in the raids on Derna were the headquarters of Daesh – and our forces were the ones who bombed them, not the Egyptian planes”.

The incident occured at approximately 7:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Rabiha al-Mansouri
female via HRW killed
Afraa
Child via HRW killed
Zakaria
Child via HRW killed
Huthaifa al-Karshoufi
via HRW killed

The victims were named as:

Osama al-Shteiwi,
Age unknown male via HRW killed
Attia Bousheiba al-Shaari
Age unknown via HRW killed
Hanan Faraj al-Drissi
Age unknown via HRW killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–21
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (39) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Youtube: Russia Today showing footage of the airstrike
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Youtube: Al Jazeera shows footage of the victims
  • Youtube: Former GNC Prime Minister Omar al-Hassi comdemns the Egyptian airstrikes on Alkool
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Youtube: Al Jazeera Mubashir shows a nurse that explains the details of the children’s deaths

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention two missiles striking homes in the Shiha (شيحا) neighborhood of Derna, Libya (درنة). Investigating audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location of at least one of these missiles to an intersection between a mosque and a university, for which the exact coordinates are: 32.760918, 22.621526.

  • Image showing scene of airstrike. Note that tag A is the minaret of a mosque.

    Imagery:
    Al Jazeera

  • Image from news report showing street targeted by airstrike. Note that tag F is the entrance to a street leading to the right of this photo.

    Imagery:
    Arabi21

  • Satellite image showing distribution of features tagged in photos of neighborhood hit by the airstrike.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Satellite image showing the exact location of the airstrike.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–21
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (39) [ collapse]