Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

LC180

Incident date

August 11, 2019

Location

سوق الجمعة , Souq Al Jumaa, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.881854, 13.256303 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three people were reportedly injured by LNA artillery shelling on the Souq Al Jumaa neighbourhood of Tripoli.

Libya Alahrar TV wrote: “3 civilians were injured due to shells falling on a residential neighbourhood in Souq Al Jumaa area in Tripoli”

February TV also said three civilians were injured and blamed the LNA for the shelling.

The GNA also accused the LNA and said they were breaking the Eid al-Adha truce agreed between the two parties during the festivities.

The Libya Observer later tweeted that four civilians were injured on August 11th by a Grad rocket that hit a residential building in Souq Al Jumaa.

Amnesty International later published a detailed investigation: “At about 9am on 11 August 2019 an artillery shell struck a house in the Souq al-Joumaa neighbourhood of Tripoli, west of Mitiga airport, injuring three civilians: Mahmoud Bashir Abu Obeid, the owner of the house, his 12-year-old nephew Rawad, and his elderly neighbour Mahfoudh Ben Ali. The shell struck a part of the house which was being used to slaughter sheep at a particularly busy time, on Eid al-Kabir (Feast of Sacrifice), the main religious holiday in the Muslim calendar, which is celebrated by slaughtering a sheep. A witness told Amnesty International:

‘There were several people around, it was busy. The shell which landed here was one of several which landed in the area. Some hit the airport. The airport is being shelled all the time, so one doesn’t really pay so much attention any more. But then suddenly, one of the shell struck right here in the middle of the people. It makes one realise how dangerous this is.’

Fragments recovered at the scene by Amnesty International investigators confirm that the weapon was an OF-412 100m artillery projectile.”

The incident occured at approximately 9:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mahmoud Bashir Abu Obeid
Adult male injured
Rawad
12 years old male injured

The victims were named as:

Mahfoudh Ben Ali
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Souq Al Jumaa (سوق الجمعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.881854, 13.256303. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Souq Al Jumaa (سوق الجمعة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]