Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

LC256

Incident date

December 19, 2019

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

32.374457, 15.087794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

During a night of heavy LNA and UAE attacks on the city of Misurata – with at least 17 airstrikes reported, mostly targeting military sites – up to six civilians were locally reported injured.

According to Libya al Ahrar, “A medical source confirms to Libya Al-Ahrar the arrival of 6 wounded civilians to the emergency department of the Misurata Medical Center as a result of the bombing of supportive aircraft for Haftar sites in the city.”

Burkan Al Ghadab gave more details, noting that “The Accident and Emergency Department at Misurata Medical Center received 6 injuries as a result of the aerial bombardment of the city of Misurata, two cases were housed in the department, a state underwent an emergency operation and three cases of minor injuries who received first aid and left the department.” It also published photographs of some of the injured.

Al Mashad placed the number injured lower at four, noting that “The Misurata Hospital stated that four civilians were wounded by shrapnel as a result of the aerial bombardment carried out by the air force fighters of the National Army, targeting ammunition storage sites in residential neighborhoods since the late hours of Thursday, which resulted in violent explosions. The Misrata Hospital demanded the Presidential Council to remove weapons and ammunition depots from the population.”

The following day, al Wasat reported that ” the Presidential Council of the National Accord Government condemned the ‘treacherous aerial bombardment’ that targeted the city of Misurata on Thursday, ‘and resulted in the injury of a number of civilians’, noting that the bombing was ‘carried out by a supportive foreign aircraft’ for the commander of the national army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misrata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.374457, 15.087794. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • One of the civilians injured in LNA strikes on Misurata on the night of December 19th arrive for treatment at Misurata Medical Centre (via Burkan Al Ghadab)
  • Misurata Medical Centre (via Burkan Al Ghadab)
  • One of the civilians injured by the LNA in Misurata on December 19th 2019 is treated by medics (via Burkan Al Ghadab)
  • One of the civilians injured by the LNA in Misurata on December 19th 2019 is treated by medics (via Burkan Al Ghadab)

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
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]