Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

LC039

Incident date

August 12, 2016

Location

قنفودة, Ganfouda, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.028594, 20.026959 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 31
  • (3 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, French Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Saraya Media Center shows the impact of the airstrikes and interviews residents of Ganfouda
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Saraya Media Center interviews those injured in the airstrike
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video shows the aftermath of the airstrike (Source:Al-Tanaseh TV)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Saraya Media Center shows the aftermath of the airstrike and speaks with victims
  • Saraya Media Center speaks with children injured in the airstrike

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.

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 31
  • (3 women1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, French Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]