Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

LC201

Incident date

September 19, 2019

Location

مرزق القلعة, Murzuq Castle, Murzuq, Libya

Geolocation

25.919023, 13.923895 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians were reportedly killed in an LNA or Emirati airstrike on Murzuq.

Ali642Souki said: “One of the drone’s missiles targeted one of the Tebu houses and hit a family consisting of a father and 2 of his children and his wife was visiting their neighbours and the father and his sons had died all together and here under the rubble of the house God and yes agent.”

Aldamoh_201112 tweeted: “4 civilians, including an elderly woman and 3 children, were martyred as a result of the UAE air raids on Al Qalaa residential neighbourhood.”

Libya Alhrar TV, however, said that a local official denied any civilian harm: “Municipal Council member Murzuq Muhammad Omar confirmed that Hifter has launched four airstrikes on the city’s Citadel (Al Qalaa) neighbourhood.

Omar explained to the free that the raids did not cause any casualties, pointing out that one of the strikes targeted an empty house of one of the displaced families from the neighbourhood, which displaced most of its residents after the escalation of clashes in the city.”

According to Al Motawaset, the LNA spokesperson Ahmed Al-Mesmari denied any LNA strikes on Murzuq on that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2–3 children0–1 women0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Alleged aftermath of an airstrike on Murzuq on September 19th, 2019 (via Ali642Souki)
  • Alleged aftermath of an airstrike on Murzuq on September 19th, 2019 (via Ali642Souki)
  • Alleged aftermath of an airstrike on Murzuq on September 19th, 2019 (via Ali642Souki)
  • Alleged aftermath of an airstrike on Murzuq on September 19th, 2019 (via Ali642Souki)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Murzuq Castle (قلعة مرزق), for which the generic coordinates are: 25.919023, 13.923895. 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

United Arab Emirates Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United Arab Emirates Military
  • United Arab Emirates Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2–3 children0–1 women0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]