Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

LC018

Incident date

May 26, 2015

Location

ميناء سرت, Port of Sirte, Surt, Libya

Geolocation

31.213611, 16.631111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and up to four others wounded in two alleged LNA airstrikes on an oil tanker off the coast of Sirte, local media reported.

The casualties – all crew members, two of whom were hospitalised – reportedly occurred as the tanker was set on fire.
According to Japan Times, “The Anwaar Afriqya, a tanker carrying 30,000 metric tons of gas oil from Motor Oil Hellas’s refinery in Greece, was attacked while anchored off Sirte in central Libya, Rida Issa, the coast guard chief, said by phone. The airstrike caused a fire on the tanker that was later extinguished, the vessel’s second-in-command, Fakhri Mohammed, said.” The report went on to say that one person died and one was injured in the attack.

Almarsad, Alarabiya and Ajwa made no mention of a fatality but said that between 3-4 civilians were wounded in the fire.

According to a report by Akhbar Masr, “Libyan Air Force Chief of Staff Saqr al-Jaroushi said aircraft attacked the tanker Anwaar Afriqya registered in Libya, off Sirte port, on Sunday as it was unloading weapons.”

A report by Almarsad cited eye witness testimony, explaining that “a worker at the port said the tanker was attacked with a missile fired into the cockpit and crew rooms. ‘Then the aircraft attacked the ship with machine guns,’ he said, adding that there was a danger that the fuel would leak. ‘They attacked (the tanker) after we unloaded the first oil tank and we were preparing to unload the second,’ the worker said.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a tanker being struck off the coast of Port of Sirte (ميناء سرت), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.213611, 16.631111. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows man, injured followed an alleged LNA airstrike near the port of Sirte (Source: Monitor Benghazi News)
  • Translation: #Sirte Pictures of the African oil tanker that was bombed today off the coast of the city and the crew ... And some information confirms that the air eagles Libyan army bombed the tanker (Source: Ali al-Werfalli)
  • Picture of the burning oil tanker (Source: Ali al-Werfalli)
  • Another picture of the victim (Source: Ali al-Werfalli)

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–4
  • 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

Sources (15) [ collapse]