Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

LC261

Incident date

December 26, 2019

Location

صيدلية أوكسجين, Oxygen Pharmacy O2, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.765536, 12.754072 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed and eight injured after LNA and/or UAE aircraft hit a pharmacy, a car and other civilian targets in Zawiya.

The target of the LNA strikes was initially assumed to be the headquarters of the GNA’s Al Farouq battalion. However reports soon made clear that multiple nearby civilian objects had in fact been struck.

Al Wasat News for example reported that along with the nearby military base, “warplanes of the LNA targeted a pharmacy and shops, noting that initial reports indicate casualties and injuries, including women and children.” It later added that “Eyewitnesses said that the shelling was about 200 meters from the headquarters of the Farouq Company, which is located in the farm of the former Arab Mahdi Brigade, next to the Oil and Gas College and Al Zawiya Hospital.” Al Wasat also published several images of destruction at the scene, including a burning car.

The Libya Observer reported the following: “Al-Zawiya Educational Hospital said Thursday that it had received two bodies of civilians killed in airstrikes by Khalifa Haftar’s warplanes on Al-Zawiya, adding that eight injured persons had also arrived at the hospital and that five of them were admitted to the intensive care unit. Three airstrikes by Haftar’s warplanes targeted shops and a pharmacy as well as a bakery and the port of Al-Zawiya Oil Refinery, the media office of Volcano of Rage Operation said.”

Libya Al Ahrar cited the local mayor fort its casualty figures, noting three killed and also: “Mayor of Al-Zawiyah Municipality Jamal Bahr told Al-Ahrar: 10 civilian injuries, ranging from medium to critical, as a result of the bombardment of Haftar’s aircraft in locations in the city”

According to the Souq Al Khamis site, one of the injured victims was a pregnant woman: “Khadija appeared in the video while trying to rescue her husband, Anis Shaqlabo, may God have mercy on him, after targeting by the war supporter, the criminal, Haftar, of their car in the city of Zawiya. Khadija at that moment was afflicted with shrapnel that penetrated her guts, but she was trying to save her husband for the sake of their children. Khadija underwent surgery on her stomach and now she is in intensive care, we pray to God to expedite her recovery and keep her children safe.”

Libya Al Ahrar TV also reported that among those injured are Egyptians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Khadija
Adult female pregnant Wife of Anis injured
Anis Shaqlabo
Adult male Husband of Khadija killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military
  • Suspected target
    GNA

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 which left at least 3 civilians dead (via Al Wasat News)
  • Aftermath of likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 which left at least 3 civilians dead (via Al Wasat News)
  • Aftermath of likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 which left at least 3 civilians dead (via Al Wasat News)
  • Aftermath of likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 which left at least 3 civilians dead (via Al Wasat News)
  • Destruction at Al Zawiya following a lethal alleged LNA strike on December 26th 2019 (via al Wasat)
  • Destruction at Al Zawiya following a lethal alleged LNA strike on December 26th 2019 (via al Wasat)
  • A burnt out vehicle after a reported LNA airstrike on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • A burning vehicle after a reported LNA airstrike on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • A pharmacy damaged in a likely LNA airstrike on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Aftermath of a lethal likely LNA strike on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 (via al Ahrar News)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian is stretchered from the scene following a likely LNA strike on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 (via Burkan al Ghadab)
  • Medics attend to the injured following likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 (via Libya al Ahrar)
  • Medics attend to the injured following likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 (via Libya al Ahrar)
  • Medics attend to the injured following likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya on December 26th 2019 (via Libya al Ahrar)
  • Injured civilians following likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya, December 26th 2019 (via Libya Al Ahrar)
  • Injured civilians following likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya, December 26th 2019 (via Libya Al Ahrar)
  • Injured civilians following likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya, December 26th 2019 (via Libya Al Ahrar)
  • Injured civilians following likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya, December 26th 2019 (via Libya Al Ahrar)
  • Injured civilians following likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya, December 26th 2019 (via Libya Al Ahrar)
  • Injured civilians following likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya, December 26th 2019 (via Libya Al Ahrar)
  • Injured civilians following likely LNA strikes on Al Zawiya, December 26th 2019 (via Libya Al Ahrar)
  • Video of the aftermath

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Oxygen Pharmacy O2 (صيدلية أوكسجين) being struck in Zawiya (الزاوية‎). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to these exact coordinates: 32.765536, 12.754072.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Oxygen Pharmacy O2 (صيدلية أوكسجين) being struck in Zawiya (الزاوية‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military
  • Suspected target
    GNA

Sources (21) [ collapse]