Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

Lib2011-096

Incident date

May 16, 2011

Location

باب العزيزية, Bab Al Azizia, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.871451, 13.172594 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 16th, 2011, NATO forced bombed Tripoli, including a hotel near the Bab al-Azizyah neighbourhood. Multiple sources reported the airstrikes, although it was unclear if there were civilian casualties.

Al Jazeera for example noted: “On Monday evening, NATO forces bombed civilian and military targets in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and the nearby Qasr Bin Ghashir region, according to Libyan state television, while the rebels announced that they were planning to head towards the west of the country. Libyan State TV quoted a military source with news of the bombing, and saying that the strikes caused ‘material and human damage.'”

Abo Mohammad posted: “The Libyan regime TV reported that the city of Tripoli and the Qasr bin Ghashir area were bombed this evening, and reports from Al-Manara reported that three powerful explosions shook Bab Al-Aziziyah.”

NATO reported airstrikes “in Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Node, 1 Military Training Facility. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Surface-To-Air Fire Control Radar, 2 Land Based Air Surveillance Radars”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Bab Al Azizia (باب العزيزية),  for which the generic coordinates are: 32.871451, 13.172594. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Node, 1 Military Training Facility. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1
Surface-To-Air Fire Control Radar, 2 Land Based Air Surveillance Radars

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-097

Incident date

May 24, 2011

Location

باب العزيزية, Bab Al Azizia, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.871451, 13.172594 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and 19 civilians were reported killed and as many as 150 wounded following a NATO airstrike on Tripoli.

Syria Libya wrote: “Tripoli is now exposed to bombardment and confirmed news of the wounded and the killing of civilians and Qatar pays the bill.”

RT showed images of the victims and said: “Tripoli reports three people were killed and dozens injured during twenty minutes of strikes.”

Nahar Net quoted the spokesperson of the Gaddafi regime: “At least three people were killed and 150 wounded in NATO raids on Tripoli overnight, Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said.”

The Washington Post published a similar statement: “Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said NATO had targeted the headquarters of the military reserves, killing at least three and injuring dozens. He said that the casualties would have been higher except that the government had long ago emptied the headquarters, expecting that it would be hit.”

Reuters later published a report saying that the civilian death toll had risen to 19.

Libya History posted a video of the incident saying that one of the strikes targeted a mosque. It shows a hospital worker saying they have received more than 30 cases, three of them killed and that they remained unidentified. One of the injured said the strikes targeted Tariq Al Sour and the buildings surrounding it.

NATO reported hitting “1 Armoured Vehicle Storage Facility” and “1 Missile Storage and Maintenance Facility, 1 Command & Control Node.” in and near Tripoli.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 19
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–150
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • Video piece allegedly showing the strikes and victims

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    BBC Arabic video report

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim allegedly killed by NATO airstrikes on Tripoli on May 24th, 2011 (via Libya First)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Bab Al Azizia (باب العزيزية),  for which the generic coordinates are: 32.871451, 13.172594. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In Tripoli: 1 Armoured Vehicle Storage Facility. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Missile Storage and Maintenance Facility, 1 Command & Control Node.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 19
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–150
  • 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]

Incident Code

Lib2011-098

Incident date

May 27, 2011

Location

الدفنية, Al Dafniyah, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.390033, 14.7988488 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 27th, 2011, rocket strikes from Gaddafi forces in the Dafiniyah area of Misurata were said to have killed one reporter and six rebels, as well as injuring 25 other rebels.

Multiple sources described the reporter as Mohammad Al Ma’dani, a journalist who had documented the rebel groups.

Tawasul MC said: “25 wounded and the death of 7 of them, the media figure (Muhammad Al-Ma’dani) today at noon in the Al-Dafniyah area in Misurata.”

Two condolence posts on Facebook commemorated his death.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Al Ma'Dani
Adult male Reporter working in Misrata killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 journalist)
  • 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
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6
  • Belligerents reported injured
    25

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Photographs of Mohammad al-Ma'Dani, allegedly killed by a Gaddafi forces strike on Misurata on May 27th, 2011, recounting his journalist times (via Hussein Abdullah Al Jerani)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Dafiniyah (الدفنية), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.390033, 14.7988488. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Dafiniyah (الدفنية).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Gaddafi Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 journalist)
  • 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
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6
  • Belligerents reported injured
    25

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-099

Incident date

May 28, 2011

Location

بني وليد, Bani Walid, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

31.75805, 13.983513 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 28th, 2011, a demonstrated near the market in Bani Walid lead to the death of 13 civilians, who were shot by Gaddafi aligned forces.

A UN report from 2011 reported the casualty, stating “Together with 12 other young men, an injured man sought refuge in a room on the second floor of a nearby commercial building. Qadhafi forces, reportedly from the Al Fateh Brigade, stormed the building. One of the demonstrators told the Commission that his brother was amongst those who sought refuge in the building.  He spoke to his brother by phone, trying to reassure him. While he was speaking to his brother, the phone went dead. The interviewee was informed later that all the men in the room had been shot dead. One of the soldiers of the Al-Fateh Brigade, [003], was later arrested by the thuwar. While he was in custody, the witness had the opportunity to question him. The soldier said that he had been ordered to reassure the men in the room that they would be safe. The soldier also said that the young men had a number of rifles with them but they had no ammunition. The men had then been shot..”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    13

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town Bani Walid (بني وليد), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.75805, 13.983513. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    13

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-100

Incident date

May 30, 2011

Location

زليتن, Zliten, Libya

Geolocation

32.466659, 14.566591 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 30th, 2011, multiple sources reported NATO airstrikes on Zliten, which were said to have killed 11 people – although their status was unclear.

RT said: “Libyan television announced on Monday, May 30th, that NATO launched air strikes on the town of Zliten on the coastal road linking Tripoli and Misrata, killing 11 people.”

The state-run Libyan News Agency reported “many injured”, but no number was provided and this was not confirmed by any other source.

The airstrikes were reported by France 24 to have been on the Wadi Kaam region of Zliten. It noterd that “The official Libyan News Agency reported that ‘civilian and military sites’ in the Wadi Kaam area in Zliten were subjected to raids on Monday by ‘the colonial Crusader aggression,’ pointing to ‘the fall of 11 martyrs’ and wounding many others.”

NATO itself did not report strikes near Zliten on that day, and some independent monitors after the war said that some claims by Gaddafi regime-affiliated media had been found to be exaggerated or fabricated

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 11
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–12
  • 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 attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Zliten (زليتن), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.466659, 14.566591. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 11
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–12
  • 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 attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-101

Incident date

May 31, 2011

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.886602, 13.190912 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 31st 2011, sources told Al Jazeera of casualties in Tripoli due to NATO bombing in the area. No numbers were provided, and it was unclear if these casualties were civilians or belligerents.

The source said: “NATO renewed its bombing of several locations, including the Libyan capital, Tripoli, at dawn today, which, according to official sources, left material and human losses.”

17th February Revolution Libya mentioned bombardment of a tobacco factory “which is believed to be used as a gathering place for mercenaries and battalions.”

NATO reports airstrikes “in the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Vehicle Storage Facility, 3 Surface-To-Air Missile Launchers”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a tobacco factory being struck in the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Tripoli are: 32.886602, 13.190912.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

NATO forces

31 May: In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Vehicle Storage Facility, 3 Surface-To-Air Missile Launchers.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-102

Incident date

June 2, 2011

Location

العزيزية‎ , Aziziya, Jafara, Libya

Geolocation

32.533137, 13.015406 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two police officers were reportedly killed in a NATO airstrike on Aziziya.

Nima Elbagir said on Twitter: “Libya gov tell CNN latest Nato strike hit police station in Aziziya – west of Tripoli – killing 2 police officers. No comment yet from Nato”

Free Libya Page only reported airstrikes around Tripoli but no civilian harm.

NATO itself said it conducted airstrikes near Tripoli and Mizdah but did not mention Aziziya specifically.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the police station (مديرية الأمن بالمدينة) of Azizya (العزيزية‎) being struck,  for which the generic coordinates are: 32.533137, 13.015406. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-103

Incident date

June 4, 2011

Location

نالوت‎, Nalut, Libya

Geolocation

31.873316, 10.976744 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 14 civilians were reportedly injured by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling on Nalut.

Libya Women tweeted: “The Gaddafi Brigades carried out rocket and mortar bombardments on the town of Nalut and the number of wounded was 10.”

Later it published another post saying the number of wounded had risen to 14. Other sources posted similar numbers.

17 Feb 2011 uploaded a video to Youtube showing victims, with some of them in military style uniforms.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–7

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video showing the alleged victims

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Nalut (نالوت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.873316, 10.976744. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Gaddafi Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–7

Sources (9) [ collapse]