Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

Lib2011-117

Incident date

June 25, 2011

Location

مرسى البريقة, Brega, Al Wahat, Libya

Geolocation

30.411123, 19.570076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A NATO airstrike on Brega killed 15 civilians, according to Gaddafi regime television.

Sky News Australia wrote: “NATO strike in eastern Libya kills 15 – Libyan TV says a NATO air strike in the town of Brega has killed 15 people”.

Emirates247 provided a more detailed report: “Libyan state television said a Nato air strike on ‘civilian sites’ in the eastern town of Brega killed 15 people and wounded more than 20, a claim promptly denied by the alliance.

‘The colonialist crusader Atlantic coalition bombed civilian sites, among them a bakery and a restaurant in Brega, creating 15 martyrs and more than 20 wounded, among them regular clients of those places,’ the TV said.”

Other sources also referred to the state television as a source.

NATO itself reported hitting “2 Tanks, 1 Logistic Truck, 6 Technical Vehicles, 3 Military Shelters, 4 Military Compounds, 1 Antenna” near Brega on June 25 without mentioning civilian harm.

Independent monitors assessed that civilian casualty numbers provided by the Gaddafi regimed during the NATO campaign were hugely inflated or fabricated.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 target
    NATO forces

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video showing the alleged victims of the strike
  • Another video report on the incident

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Brega (البريقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.411123, 19.570076. 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

In the vicinity of Brega: 7 Command & Control Nodes, 1 Military Storage Facility, 14 Truck-Mounted Guns, 1 Tank, 2 Armoured Personnel Carriers, 3 Logistic Trucks, 7 Military Shelters.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • Civilians reported injured
    20
  • 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 target
    NATO forces

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-119

Incident date

June 24, 2011

Location

زاوية المحجوب, Zawiyat Al Mahjoub, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

32.385993, 14.974021 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Missiles from Gaddafi forces allegedly struck Misrata in Zawiyat Al-Mahjoub and near the coastal road at 10 in the evening and killed one young man named Muhammad Al-Kabayli and injured two others. According to a Facebook post by Free Misrata 4 ever, Muhammad died because there was a shortage of medical supplies due to a bombing of Ghiran earlier.

The areas struck by the rockets were residential areas. A video posted by Free Misrata on Youtube showed the physical damage caused by the airstrike, including a crater in the ground and cement and metal debris. A video posted by Al Somood showed damage to the roofs and walls of residential buildings.

The incident occured at 22:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 undetermined)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of xMuhammad Al-Kabayli, killed by missiles in Misrata on June 24, 2011

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Zawiyat Al Mahjoub (زاوية المحجوب). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Zawiyat Al Mahjoub are: 32.385993, 14.974021.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Zawiyat Al Mahjoub (زاوية المحجوب)

    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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 undetermined)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-118

Incident date

June 24, 2011

Location

الدافنية, Al Dafiniya, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Rocket fire allegedly launched by Gaddafi’s forces struck the Al Dafiniya area and killed between one and four people and injured between nine and ten.

A Facebook post from News sarkhat Libya alleges that those killed and injured were rebels while a tweet from @shababalnhda alleges that they were civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–10

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–10

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-116

Incident date

June 22, 2011

Location

الدفنية, Dafiniyah, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were reported killed by Gaddafi regime forces artillery shelling on Misurata.

Al Jazeera reported: “On the Misurata front, Reuters reported that three people were killed and 12 wounded in an artillery bombardment by Gaddafi forces on the Dafiniyah area.

More rockets fell on Wednesday in a suburb close to the port, and residents said no one was hurt, while a Reuters reporter said many dead sheep were lying in a field after the attack.”

February 17 Revolution of the Liberals of Libya said: “One of the city’s northeastern neighborhoods was shelled by long-range missiles by Gaddafi’s criminal battalions. About three rockets landed in one of the neighborhoods, causing material damage and wounding four civilians. The shelling killed about 35 sheep.”

Aisha Mansurey and Libya Alahrar TV said no human casualties occurred but the latter tweeted that six sheep were killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–12
  • 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
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-115

Incident date

June 22, 2011

Location

زليتن, Zliten, Murqub, Libya

Geolocation

32.334524, 14.530509 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were killed by a NATO airstrike near Zliten, according to the Gaddafi regime television.

France 24 said that “Libyan television announced the killing of dozens.”

Al Jazeera wrote: “Libyan television said on Wednesday dozens of people were killed in Zliten in a bombardment by NATO warplanes. However, it was not possible to verify the authenticity of the information independently because the Libyan authorities are preventing the entry of foreign journalists into the town.”

NATO itself reported striking “13 Armed Vehicules, 1 Armoured Personnel Carrier, 1 Rocket Launcher” on June 22 near Zliten without reporting civilian harm.

Throughout the NATO intervention independent monitors reported that the Gaddafi regime hugely inflated or fabricated reports of civilian casualties in Libya.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • 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
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Zliten (زليتن) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Zliten are: 32.334524, 14.530509.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

NATO forces

In the vicinity of Zlitan: 13 Armed Vehicules , 1 Armoured Personnel Carrier , 1 Rocket Launcher

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 24
  • 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
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM010

Incident date

June 21–23, 2011

Location

Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

-0.404956, 42.498817 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the first known lethal drone strike in Somalia, Predators struck a militant training camp 10km south of Kismayo. Further missiles reportedly hit a second target near the airport. At least one member of Al-Shabaab was killed – possibly “many” – and up to three were wounded, according to local and international media. There were no reports of civilian harm.

Several sources reported at least one militant’s death while other pointed to “many”. Abdirashid Mohamed Hidig, Somalia’s deputy defence minister, told AP the strike killed “many” foreign fighters. “I have their names, but I don’t want to release them,” he claimed.

Ibrahim al Afghani, also known as Ibrahim Haji Jama Mead, a senior leader in al Shabaab, was reportedly wounded or killed, although Strategic Forecasting claimed on August 11th 2011 that Afghani was alive and had replaced Ahmed Abdi Godane as the emir of al Shabaab.

Al Shabaab did not respond to either report, though Afghani has not appeared in public since. Somali Report, however, cited an al Shabaab official who claimed that no militants were killed.

Meanwhile, between one and three militants were wounded, according to reports. A local al Shabaab leader, Sheik Hassan Yaqub, reported two wounded while resident Mohammed Aden reported seeing three wounded militants. Among them was British citizen Bilal al Berjawi, killed in a subsequent US drone strike in January 2012.

There was no public announcement of the strike by the US. However, an anonymous  “senior U.S. military official familiar with the operation” told the Washington Post “a U.S. drone aircraft fired on two leaders of a militant Somali organization tied to al-Qaeda, apparently wounding them”.

The Washington Post added: “Both of the al-Shabab leaders targeted in the attack had ‘direct ties’ to American-born cleric Anwar al-Aulaqi, the military official said.” However, the Post reported that “The White House declined” to respond to questions about the attack.

US helicopters reportedly landed after the strike, with troops retrieving some dead and injured. The strike was the first joint mission conducted by JSOC and the CIA, CNN claimed.

In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM said it had conducted a strike on what it says was an “al-Shabaab name objective”, in Ras Matooni, Somalia on June 21st 2011. This is the closest match we have for this strike.

It remains possible that there were other US actions – perhaps covert – around this time. The Long War Journal said that a “Predator” strike occurred on June 25th. And Somalia Report flagged an incident the previous day, asserting that “On June 24th, helos from Camp Simba took out a Shabaab convoy.”

The incident occured between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–3

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted a convoy near a training camp 10 kilometers south of Kismayo. A subsequent FOIA response pointed to the vicinity of the area Ras Matooni (-0.46484, 42.47665). The coordinates for the area 10 kilometers south of Kismayo are: -0.404956, 42.498817. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

On June 30th 2011, the Washington Post reported:

A U.S. drone aircraft fired on two leaders of a militant Somali organization tied to al-Qaeda, apparently wounding them, a senior U.S. military official familiar with the operation said Wednesday.

The strike last week against senior members of al-Shabab comes amid growing concern within the U.S. government that some leaders of the Islamist group are collaborating more closely with al-Qaeda to strike targets beyond Somalia, the military official said.

The action was publicly confirmed in a DoD FOIA response in 2019.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–3

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM020-C

Incident date

June 21, 2011

Location

جامع حمزة في جعار, Hamza Mosque, Jaar, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.220151, 45.304792 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to seven people were killed and four others were wounded in US airstrikes or drone strikes on Hamzah Mosque in Ja’ar on June 21, 2011. At least two of the people killed were identified as possibly being militants.

@YemNews1 tweeted that four people were killed when Yemeni warplanes bombed the Hamzah mosque in the center of Jaar. @noonArabia reported that “scores of dead and wounded” were left following the bombing and @AdenLang referred to “deaths from armed groups and citizens”, indicating that civilians and militants were killed.

A tweet from @AdenLang identified that the right side of the mosque was damaged from the bombing and @YusraAlA added that Nasser Abdulrab Al-Yafi’s building was partially destroyed by the bombardment.

@YusraAIA later clarified to note that shops near the mosque were burned and damaged and two civilians were killed and four wounded by shrapnel because of the strike, while also tweeting that “7 citizens were killed”, in addition to reporting that two militants and “a number of innocent citizens’ were killed. According to @NoonArabia, “2 citizens instantly killed in bus passing by mosque while bombarded”.

Adlhla Press reported that the strike was believed to be carried out by Americans with two missiles used. Residents of Jaar had told Aden al-Ghad that warplanes hovered at noon before launching missiles upon the mosque.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the bombing of the Hamza Mosque in the city of Jaar and the damage to its shops on June 21, 2011. (Image posted by Majdi Naqib via Facebook)
  • Pictures of the bombing of the Hamza Mosque in the city of Jaar and the damage to its shops on June 21, 2011. (Image posted by Majdi Naqib via Facebook)
  • Photo 1: Destruction: June 21st- #Abyan: Hamzah Mosque Shelling in Ja'ar by warplanes. (Image posted by @YusraAlA)
  • Photo 2: Destruction: June 21st- #Abyan: Hamzah Mosque Shelling in Ja'ar by warplanes. (Image posted by @YusraAlA)
  • Photo 3: Destruction: June 21st- #Abyan: Hamzah Mosque Shelling in Ja'ar by warplanes. (Image posted by @YusraAlA)
  • Photo 4: Destruction: June 21st- #Abyan: Hamzah Mosque Shelling in Ja'ar by warplanes. (Image posted by @YusraAlA)
  • Photo 5: Destruction: June 21st- #Abyan: Hamzah Mosque Shelling in Ja'ar by warplanes.(Image posted by @YusraAlA)
  • Photo 6: Destruction: June 21st- #Abyan: Hamzah Mosque Shelling in Ja'ar by warplanes. (Image posted by @YusraAlA)
  • Photo 8: Destruction: June 21st- #Abyan: Hamzah Mosque Shelling in Ja'ar by warplanes. (Image posted by @YusraAlA)
  • Photo 9: Destruction: June 21st- #Abyan: Hamzah Mosque Shelling in Ja'ar by warplanes. (Image posted by @YusraAlA)
  • A man injured in Hamzah Mosque Shelling in Ja'ar by warplanes. (Image posted by Aldhla Press)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib Mosque (مسجد حمزة بن عبدالمطلب) in the town of Jaar (جعار), for which the generic coordinates are: 13.220151, 45.304792. Due to limited satellite imagery and 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, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Religious Institution
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-113

Incident date

June 20, 2011

Location

الرويسات, Roiussat, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.364997, 15.110699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was allegedly killed and his mother severely injured by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling on the Roiussat area of Misurata.

Al Somood reported: “The missile that fell yesterday evening in the Roiussat area was at the house of the Abu Shaiba family. A child was killed and his mother was seriously injured and she is now in the intensive care room.”

Libya Alahrar TV and @RanimMoh wrote he was 16 years old, Al Zawiya said 14.

Al Aan said the father was also injured.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

16 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video of the aftermath
  • Another video showing the aftermath

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Roiussat (الرويسات) within the city of Misrata (مصراتة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Roiussat are: 32.364997, 15.110699.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Roiussat (الرويسات) within the city of Misrata (مصراتة).

    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 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]