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)

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

The victims were named as:

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

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.

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 belligerents
    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

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 belligerents
    Libyan National Army, French Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]