Incident Code

LC039

Location

قنفودة, Ganfouda, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.028594, 20.026959
Accuracy: Neighbourhood/area

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

Various sources reported that between 20 and 31 civilians were killed and around 30 more injured as a result of airstrikes in Ganfouda. Two targets appear to have been struck – a residential home and a prison.

While some sources claimed the attack was conducted by an unknown foreign drone, others blame the LNA or France.

Radio Dabanga reported that five members of a Sudanese family were killed when an unidentified air force bombed their home during fighting between rival factions in Benghazi. The Sudanese outlet reported that the civilians were being used as human shields. The victims were named as Mohammed Aduma Mohammed (the father), his wife Safaa Mansour, and children Mohammed Aduma Mohammed, Rania Mohammed and Heba Mohammed.

The Saraya Media Center showed images of the victims on its Telegram channel and said they were killed as a result of their home collapsing after a French airstrike.

As the victims were reportedly mostly Sudanese citizens, Ambassador Qaraballah Al-Khader later condemned the use of his country’s citizens as human shields and their subsequent deaths.

Alnabaa identified the perpetrator as “French” and said the bombing was carried out by “foreign aircraft supporting [General] Haftar.”

The Libya Observer, citing the local Shura council, said 15 prisoners were killed and 30 civilians injured when a jail used to house supporters of “former regime followers” was also bombed. The Observer also blamed “foreign aircraft, in support of Khalifa Haftar.” A later report raised the death toll to 22 with 9 missing. Ewan Libya published a list of those prisoners deceased and missing.

According to Mohamed Abd Alwanis posting on Facebook, in addition, two Shura Council fighters were reported killed in the incident.

Victims

Family members (5)

Adult male Via Dabangasudan killed
Adult female Via Dabangasudan killed
male Via Dabangasudan killed
female Via Dabangasudan killed
female Via Dabangasudan killed

Individuals

Bilal Mohammed Al-Taraki
Ismail Hamed Al-Rubaie
Ismail Boujrada Gaddafi
Abdul Salam Mukhtar Al Ajili
Zakaria Makhlouf the Turgian
Lafi Saleh al-Ashebi
Missing
Ali Nasr Grill
Ahmed Zaghloul Fathallah
Mohammed Omar Al-Amari
Abdul Rahman Mohammed Gaddafi
Missing
Ahmed Ali Almagri
Missing
Mahdi Yusuf Mohammed
Hamed Alturghi
Mohammed Al-Aqili
Abdul Latif Ali Al-Darcy
Adel Salem Nabous
Missing
Mustafa Othman Al-Suway
Abdulaziz Abdulwahab Al-Hassi
Khaled Salem Al-Shaeri
Missing
Ibrahim Ali Obeidi
Khalifa Awad Al-Akouri
Missing
Mohammed Ramadan Al-Nabli
Missing

Key Information

Country
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Contested
Civilians reported killed
20–31
3 Women, 1–2 Men
Civilians reported injured
30

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Ganfouda (قنفودة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.028594, 20.026959. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Libyan National Army Assessment
Suspected belligerent
Libyan National Army
Libyan National Army position on incident
Not yet assessed
French Military Assessment
Suspected belligerent
French Military
French Military position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (5)