Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

Lib2011-164

Incident date

September 16, 2011

Location

عمارة التأمين , Al Tam’een buildings, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.205986, 16.582817 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On September the 16th, 2011, NATO allegedly bombed a residential building in Sirte called Al Ta’amin building which led to at least two killed and two injured.

According to an Amnesty International report: “At least two residents were killed in two apartments in different parts of the building. ‘Aisha Abdul Jalil al-Mazughi, a mother of two, was killed as she, her husband, Mahmoud Zarruq Masa’ud, and their two young daughters were in their apartment on the fifth floor of the building. The two girls and their father sustained light injuries. Another resident, 27-year-old ‘Ali Omar Mohammed Suleiman, whose family lived in an apartment on the third floor, was killed in the strikes.”

The NATO strike time is contested, Amnesty reported that the strike started at 6 pm and Human Rights Watch claimed that it was at 7 pm on September 16th 2011.

According to Reuters ” NATO attacked the city of Sirte last night with more than 30 rockets directed at the city’s main hotel and the Al Ta’amin building, which consists of more than 90 residential flats,” Gaddafi spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said in a call from a satellite phone to the Reuters office in Tunis which resulted in more than 354 dead and 89 still missing and almost 700 injured in one night,” he added. The Al Ta’meen building is a landmark building in the centre of Sirte.” However, it is to be noted that Reuters was unable to verify Ibrahim’s account of the incident. Gaddafi-held areas have been cut off from communication since the fall of Tripoli.

Different local sources reported that hundreds of civilians were killed and dozens were injured due to the NATO’s bombing of the Al Ta’amin residential building.

Independent reports by human rights NGOs after the civil war assessed that claims by the Gaddafi regime had been hugely exaggerated.

NATO on that day reported hitting “5 Command and Controle Nodes, 3 Radar Systems, 4 Armed Vehicles, 8 Air Missile Systems” in the vicinity of Sirte.

The incident occured between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Transcription: Al Hakika TV Reporter said that dozens were injured and hundreds were killed in NATO's bombing on the building. Also, the video shows the destruction that was caused by the bombing that took place on September 16th 2011 (via 42alfatah)
  • Transcription: A man speaking of the NATO's crime in bombing a civilian residential buildings in Sirte (Al Ta'amin buildings, Al Atba'a Hall, etc) that caused the death of hundreds of people living there on on September 16th 2011 (via 42alfatah)
  • A video capturing the destruction that was caused to the civilian building due to the NATO bombing on September 16th 2011 (via 42alfatah)
  • A video capturing the damage that is caused by the NATO forces on the civilian building from the inside. Also, unexploded ammunition is shown inside the building on September 16th 2011. (via 1388AMG)
  • "Apartment building struck on 16th September 2011 in Sirte (via Amnesty International)"
  • "Apartment building struck by NATO on 16th September 2011 in Sirte (via Amnesty International)"
  • The video showing for Ali Omar Muhammed Suleiman al-Gaddafi father. He said his son was still under rubbles waiting to pull his body up and also the video is capturing the destruction of the building that was caused by the NATO forces on September the 16th 2011. (via teamsirte)
  • Caption translation: "The residential complex in Sirte (Insurance Building) is a large residential complex that contains 90 apartments. The exterior of the complex after the bombing." (via Srab Ama Facebook post)
  • Ali Omar Muhammed Suleiman Al-Gaddafi was killed by the NATO bombing on the insurance building, Sirte (via Sirt boys Facebook post)
  • A picture of the insurance (Al Ta’min) building in Sirte that was bombed by the NATO Alliance. The bombing witnessed the fall of dozens of martyrs and missing bodies who have not been found on the September the 16th 2011 (via @anvwl Facebook post)
  • A picture of the insurance (Al Ta’min) building in Sirte that was bombed by the NATO Alliance on September the 16th 2011 (via @anvwl Facebook post)
  • Comments on a Facebook post referring that two people were killed, Ali Omar Muhammed Suleiman al-Gaddafi (on the 16/09/2011) and the wife of Mahmoud Zarouk, in the NATO bombing of the the insurance (Al Ta’min) building in Sirte on September the 16th 2011.
  • Ali Omar Muhammed Suleiman Al-Gaddafi was killed by the NATO bombing on the insurance building, Sirte on September 16th 2011 ( via @anvwl Facebook post)
  • An image of the destroyed insurance building in Sirte that was bombed by the NATO Alliance on September the 16th 2011 (via @anvwl Facebook post)
  • A memorial Facebook post for Ali Omar Mohamed Aswaisi Al-Khatri Al-Qaddafi who was killed due to the NATO's bombing on the Insurance building in Sirte on September 16th, 2011 (via Salem Al Khatr Facebook post)
  • "The eighth airstrike took place on Al Ta’meen buildings in Sirte at 7pm as NATO airstrikes targeted the buildings with several airstrikes. Names of civilians killed: -Ayesha Abd Al Jalil Banour Bashir, 40years old, female (wife and mother) who was 5 months pregnant. -Ali Omar Muhammed Aswesi, 27 years old male Names of civilians injured: Mahmoud Al Zarouk Al Sulaimani, male (husband of Aysha Bashir) - Tahani Mahmoud Al Sulaimani, female, 4 years old." (via Mustafa Al Fiyouri book)

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Tam’een apartment complex (عمارة التأمين) being struck in downtown Sirte (سرت‎). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 31.205986, 16.582817.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Al Tam’een apartment complex (عمارة التأمين) being struck in downtown Sirte (سرت‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • The exact location within the context of the city.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Distribution of tags on available satellite imagery.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces

In the vicinity of Sirte: 5 Command and ControleNodes, 3 Radar Systems, 4 Armed Vehicles, 8 Air Missile Systems

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (22) [ collapse]