Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

USYEM019-C

Incident date

June 18, 2011

Location

جعار, Ja'ar, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.223161, 45.305486 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and six civilians were injured in alleged US airstrikes or drone strikes on the neighborhood of Ja’ar and possibly other locations in Abyan governorate on June 18, 2011.

Marepress reported that American planes attacked civilian areas and focused attacks on Zinjibar and Jaar. Raids were also launched by US drones in Al-Rai neighborhood. According to the report, five civilians were wounded but there were no reports of any Al Qaeda operatives injured. Hussein Al-Yafai (@crazyyafai) tweeted that “American planes injure six people in Abyan while aiming for Al Qaeda targets”. @Sada_Aden mentioned that the preacher of the Jaar Mosque “survived the assassination.”

A tweet from @alguneid specifically referenced airstrikes against the farm of “so called jihadist” Khaled A Nabi at 10am, thought they caused no damage.

No other details were able on the victims of the strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ja’ar (جعار) in Abyan governorate. The coordinates for Ja’ar are: 13.223161, 45.305486.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–6
  • 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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-110

Incident date

June 18, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.352072, 15.206979 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was reported killed by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling on Misurata.

Alia Libya said: “Twelve rockets fell on Saturday morning, June 18, in the eastern neighborhoods of the city of Misurata, and no civilian casualties were reported.”

Shorouk News, however, noted: “A missile attack on the same area yesterday killed a woman in her garden, according to a neighbour.”

Ramadan Salim listed her name as Mabrouka Yusef Ahmad Musa.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Mabrouka Yusef Ahmad Musa
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the eastern neighborhoods of Misrata (مصراتة) near the seaport, for which the coordinates are: 32.352072, 15.206979. Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the eastern neighborhoods of Misrata (مصراتة) near the seaport.

    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 woman)
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-109

Incident date

June 17, 2011

Location

الهبارة, Al Habara , Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

32.355603, 15.155468 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On June 17th 2011, pro-Gaddafi forces shelled the city of Misurata, killing ten including eight named victims and wounding 40, according to Reuters. The status of some of those harmed was unclear.

The news agency said: “In Misurata, opposition spokesman Ahmed Hassan said 10 civilians were killed and 40 others wounded when pro-Gaddafi forces bombed the city. The news could not be verified immediately.”

Libya Al Salam wrote: “Halima Dabour, about 55 years old, was martyred in her house, specifically in the Habara area.”

Another Facebook post confirmed ten dead, although no other were able to confirm injuries. At least one civilian woman and two rebels men were among the dead, with the other seven having unclear status.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Al-Siddiq Abdullah Muhammad Al-Qan
Age unknown male Unclear if civilian killed
Muhammad Muhammad Ali Arfaida
Age unknown male Unclear if civilian killed
Ahmed Salem Muhammad Shakalon
Age unknown male Unclear if civilian killed
Suleiman Abdul Salam Muhammad Khader
Age unknown male Unclear if civilian killed
Saleh Ibrahim Ali Al-Triki
Age unknown male Unclear if civilian killed
Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim Labz
Age unknown male Unclear if civilian killed
Halima Omar Dabour's dream
Age unknown female Civilian killed
Ali Salem Hassan Al-Asifar
Age unknown male Unclear if civilian killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–40

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the area of Al Habara (الهبارة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.355603, 15.155468. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the area of Al Habara (الهبارة).

    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
    8 – 10
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–40

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-108

Incident date

June 12, 2011

Location

الزنتان, Al Zintan, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

31.996513, 12.003225 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nine civilians were allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling of Zintan.

Al Jazeera noted at the time: “On his part, a spokesman for the rebels said on Monday that nine people were killed and more than forty others were wounded on Sunday when forces loyal to Gaddafi bombed the town of Zintan, held by the rebels, in the west of the country.”

17 Feb Revolution wrote: “Libyan opposition spokesman said on Monday that nine people were killed on Sunday when forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi bombed the opposition-held Zintan town with artillery and missiles.

‘Nine were killed because of the bombing… yesterday, and more than 40 others were wounded, the spokesman, Abdul Rahman, told Reuters by phone from Zintan. ‘It was the heaviest bombardment in several weeks.'”

Other sources reported the same death toll.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other, Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Funeral of victims allegedly killed in the incident

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Zintan (الزنتان) being struck, for which the generic coordinates are: 31.996513, 12.003225. Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other, Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM017-B

Incident date

June 10, 2011

Location

زنجبار‎ , Zinjibar, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.129059, 45.380422 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that “at least one top insurgent was killed in the US military-led strikes by unmanned aircraft”, which began in Zinjibar, on June 10, 2021. There were no reports of civilian harm.

While Reuters reported that airstrikes on Zinjibar stemmed from “state forces”, according to the editor of the Yemen Post, a strike on June 10th was the sixth by US drones since the May 5th attempt on Anwar al Awlaki.

Hakim Almasmari told The Bureau of Investigative Journalism that a Yemeni Ministry of Defence official had confirmed to him that 13 air force strikes claimed by the Yemeni government in the past month were actually the work of US drones: “Our aircraft fleet is very limited. Given that, and the targets being struck, and what the eye witnesses see, we have to believe what our sources on the ground are telling us.”

As the February uprising against President Saleh generated chaos in Yemen, the US appeared to be bolstering its attacks on militants. However it became increasingly difficult to disentangle reports of “drone strikes” from US or Yemeni air strikes, or other forms of combat.

CNN reported that, throughout Zinjibar, “heavy gunfire and explosions were heard… and planes were seen flying overhead and conducting airstrikes”, the fighting resulting in the deaths of at least “twenty-one al Qaeda members and 10 Yemeni soldiers’” between June 10th and 11th 2011.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Zinjibar (زنجبار‎), Abyan province, for which the coordinates are: 13.129059, 45.380422. Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-107

Incident date

June 9, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata port, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.365000, 15.218611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, including a child, were allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces shelling of Misurata.

Shahab Al Nahda said: “Mortar shelling from the western side of the port resulted in the death of 2 civilians, including a child.”

There is currently no further known public information regarding this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the port in Misrata (مصراتة) being struck, for which the generic coordinates are: 32.365000, 15.218611. Due to limited 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 status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-106

Incident date

June 7, 2011

Location

باب العزيزية‎ , Bab Al Aziziya, Tripoli, Libya

Airwars assessment

At least 29 civilians were killed by NATO airstrikes on Tripoli, according to the Gaddafi regime.

Al Jazeera noted at the time: “Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said that at least 29 people were killed in 60 air strikes targeting the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Tuesday evening, while Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi pledged in an audio speech today to fight to the death.”

The BBC also quoted the spokesperson. Other sources only mentioned heavy bombardment.

The Sirte Martyrs condolence page later named one victim.

NATO itself declared the following airstrikes on June 7th: “In Tripoli: 5 Command & Control Facilities, 1 Vehicle Storage Facility, 2 Self-Propelled Antiaircraft Guns, 1 Air Surveillance Radar. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Facility.” And Air Cdre Ian Wood said the British RAF had taken part in the strikes on Tripoli on that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Misbah Hassan Nasr Al-Qahsi Gaddafi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 29
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video showing the alleged victims
  • Video showing the damage of the attack

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention multiple strikes on the Bab Al Aziziya compound (باب العزيزية‎) in the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.871944, 13.172222. Structural damage can be seen from the satellite imagery, however we are unable to confirm if all damage occurred from the same event.

  • Reports of the incident mention a series of strikes hitting the Bab Al Aziziya compound (باب العزيزية‎) in the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎). Structural damage can be seen from the satellite imagery, however we are unable to confirm if all damage occurred from the same event. Left is an image from 7th Mar 2011, and right from 26th Jul 2011.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Gaddafi Forces
Official source

07 JUNE: In Tripoli: 5 Command & Control Facilities, 1 Vehicle Storage Facility, 2 Self-Propelled Antiaircraft Guns, 1 Air Surveillance Radar. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Facility.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 29
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-105

Incident date

June 6, 2011

Location

الخمس‎, Khoms, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

On June 6th, 2011, 18 detainees were reported dead as a result of suffocation in poorly ventilated containers as they were being held by Gaddafi forces.

A UN report from 2011 reported the casualties, stating “On 6 June 2011, 18 detainees died in Al Khums from suffocation due to being held by Qadhafi forces in poorly ventilated metal containers in rising temperatures. Seventeen died in side the containers while 1 died later in hospital. The Commission was able to corroborate much of the testimony of survivors through physical evidence at the site. The Commission also interviewed one of the guards present at the time.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Khoms (الخمس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.64861, 14.26191. 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
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]