Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

LC401

Incident date

May 16, 2020

Location

طرابلس‎: الفرناج, Al Fornaj: University Dormitory, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.848091, 13.241433 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians, including a child, were killed and 17 civilians were injured in alleged Libyan National Army (LNA) artillery strikes on Al Fornaj neighbourhood in Tripoli on May 16th, 2020. According to local sources, the strikes targeted housing units for displaced people at a university campus.

The Libya Observer reported that “five people were killed and six others were wounded in a rocket attack launched by the militia groups of Haftar on a residential compound for IDPs [Internally Displaced People] in Fornaj district of Tripoli on Saturday [May 16th], medical sources confirm.”

The Field Medicine and Support Center reported the names of five killed civilians and added there had been a sixth killed victim who remained unidentified. One of the victims was 5-year-old Bangladeshi boy Wahi Zuhair Matin. Burkan Al Ghadab Operation added that the the child’s “ambition was to buy a bike and ‘play like the kids’.” His family members Zuhair Matin (52) and Maria Zuhair Matin (5) were injured in the strikes.

The FMSC identified 17 civilians who were injured to varying degrees, including a woman. A spokesman for the FMSC told Libya Al Ahrar that a paramedic and an ambulance driver had been injured while helping the displaced people evacuate from the university campus building.

Burkan Al Ghadab Operation reported that “the martyr of duty Muhammad Ayyad Diyaf is one of the seven victims as a result of the bombing of the Haftar militia yesterday to accommodate the displaced persons in the university campus.” It is unclear what duties Diyaf was performing when he was killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1 child4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17
  • 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 attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Smoke after alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via Tk Yahrouq Kl shy).
  • Aftermath of alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via Tk Yahrouq Kl shy).
  • Smoke after alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via Tk Yahrouq Kl shy).
  • Ambulance at the site after alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via FMSC).
  • Smoke leaving the building after alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via FMSC).
  • Child receiving medical help in the hospital after alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via FMSC).
  • Injured person receiving medical help in the hospital after alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via FMSC).
  • Fire in the building after alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via FMSC).
  • Man receiving medical help in the hospital after alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via FMSC).
  • Injured person receiving medical help in the hospital after alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via FMSC).
  • Aftermath of alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via FMSC).
  • Fire in the building after alleged LNA artillery strikes on a campus dorm housing displaced people in Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via Libya Al Ahrar).
  • Funeral of Muhammad Ayyad Diyaf, a "martyr of duty", who died in alleged LNA strikes on Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via Burkan Al Ghadab Operation).
  • The casket of Muhammad Ayyad Diyaf, a "martyr of duty", who died in alleged LNA strikes on Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via Burkan Al Ghadab Operation).
  • Funeral of Muhammad Ayyad Diyaf, a "martyr of duty", who died in alleged LNA strikes on Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via Burkan Al Ghadab Operation).
  • Funeral of Muhammad Ayyad Diyaf, a "martyr of duty", who died in alleged LNA strikes on Al Fornaj neighbourhood on May 16th, 2020 (via Burkan Al Ghadab Operation).
  • Reportedly a drawing that Wahi Matin made when his family was forced to flee their homes. The 5-year-old boy was killed in alleged LNA artillery strikes on Al Fornaj on May 16th, 2020 (via Burkan Al Ghadab Operation).
  • Photo including Wahi Matin. The 5-year-old boy was killed in alleged LNA artillery strikes on Al Fornaj on May 16th, 2020 (via Burkan Al Ghadab Operation).
  • Photo including Wahi Matin. The 5-year-old boy was killed in alleged LNA artillery strikes on Al Fornaj on May 16th, 2020 (via Burkan Al Ghadab Operation).
  • Wahi Matin (5) was killed in alleged LNA artillery strikes on Al Fornaj on May 16th, 2020 (via Burkan Al Ghadab Operation).
  • The 5-year-old Bangladeshi boy Wahi Matin was killed in alleged LNA artillery strikes on Al Fornaj on May 16th, 2020 (via Burkan Al Ghadab Operation).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the university dormitory, which was being used as an IDP camp, being struck for which the generic coordinates are: 32.848091, 13.241433. 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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (1 child4 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    17
  • 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 attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]