Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
767 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

LC138

Incident date

May 12, 2019

Location

ناصر, Naser, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.432880, 12.657010 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were allegedly killed in an airstrike on Naser. Different sources accused the LNA, UAE or Egypt.

Ibrahim Kasuda said: “The UAE assault plane targets a citizen’s car in the village of Naser in the south of Zawiya, killing all in the car and the supporters of Haftar describe it as an ammunition truck.”

Mona Al-Hur accused the UAE and Egypt of conducting the strike, also saying everyone in the car was killed without giving a number of casualties.

Asstor wrote: “An airstrike carried out by Haftar aircraft targeting small civilian vehicles claiming to carry weapons and ammunition in the area south of the city of Zawiya, killing three people and wounding two which are in serious condition.”

Anis Abdalgawad and Son of Libya Sartawi said the car was in fact an ammunition truck. Tak.yuharq.kl.shy added that one of the victims was Abdulmajid Bin Koura, supposedly an arms dealer with a criminal record.

Libyan citizen later said on Twitter that Ahmad Aldabbashi, an alleged human trafficker and oil smuggler, was killed in the strike as well.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdulmajid Bin Koura
Adult male killed
Ahmad Aldabbashi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, Unknown, Egyptian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the aftermath
  • Pictures of Abdulmajid Bin Koura, supposedly killed in the event
  • Video of the alleged aftermath
  • Picture of Ahmad Aldabbashi

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Naser (ناصر), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.43288, 12.65701. 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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, Unknown, Egyptian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC170

Incident date

July 22, 2019

Location

سوق الجمعة , Souq Al Jumaa, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.881854, 13.256303 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three children were allegedly killed because of indiscriminate shelling on the Souq Al Jumaa neighbourhood of Tripoli.

The Libya Observer initially reported no civilian harm: “At least three mortar shells landed on civilian houses near the international airport of Tripoli, without reports of human casualties so far.”

Hona Souq Al-Khmies Emsihel said three children from the Dahim family had been “severely injured” because of the shelling.

Tk Yahrouq kl shy2 wrote that three children were killed in the Souq Al Jumaa area.

Due to local reports of fighting the shelling could have been conducted by either GNA or LNA.

An Amnesty International investigation later found: “Five children were injured on 22 July 2019, when two rockets landed near where they were playing, along the outer wall of the Dahim family home, south of Mitiga airport. The uncle of three of the children told Amnesty International:

‘Ramadhan, who is two, was injured in the face and hands, his sister Asil, who is 12, sustained internal injuries in the lungs and kidneys and a piece of shrapnel was lodged by the spinal cord; a very dangerous injury. And Rinad, who is 4, was injured in the head. Also two children from two neighbouring families were injured, Hedeya, and Minna, both 12 years old. It was about 8.30 pm and the children were playing by the wall. First one shell landed on the outer side of the wall and the children moved and then another shell landed exactly where the children had been playing only a few minutes before. If they had not moved, they would had been killed.’

Fragments recovered at the scene by Amnesty International investigators confirm that the weapon was a large rocket, most likely a 122mm 9M22U ‘Grad’ rocket.”

The incident occured at 20:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ramadhan
2 years old male injured
Asil
12 years old female injured
Rinad
4 years old male injured

Family members (2)

Hedeya
12 years old female injured
Minna
12 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • More pictures of the aftermath

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Souq Al Jumaa (سوق الجمعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.881854, 13.256303. 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 Souq Al Jumaa (سوق الجمعة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

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
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC084a

Incident date

August 28, 2018

Location

وادي الربيع, Wadi al Rabie, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.709600, 13.382378 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, a woman and her two sons, were killed as the result of artillery shelling on Wadi al Rabie in Tajoura, according to Human Rights Watch.

The NGO reported: “On August 28, a mortar shell landed on a house in Wadi Al-Rabie, killing a woman and her two sons, aged 6 and 10, according to Ali, who was among the crew recovering the bodies. “The scene is difficult to describe,” he said. “We only found some body parts of the woman, and her two children were badly burned. They all died on the spot.”

Local media reports indicate that GNA-affiliated militias and the 7th Brigade were shelling the area at the time of the incident.

There are currently no other sources available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Wadi Al Rabie (الطويشة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.709600, 13.382378. 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 Wadi Al Rabie (الطويشة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC139

Incident date

May 13, 2019

Location

الزاوية‎, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.759709, 12.732495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reported killed and injured in an LNA airstrike on Zawiya.

Riyadh Burshan said that there were “reports of civilian casualties and injuries” because of “Aerial bombardment of the town of Zawiya” but did not specify how many.

Other sources only reported LNA bombarment and showed pictures of damaged buildings and cars. Most of them said that the Faruq militia was targeted.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the alleged strike
  • Pictures of the alleged aftermath
  • Video showing the aftermath of the strike

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Zawiya (الزاوية‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.759709, 12.732495. 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-126

Incident date

July 8, 2011–May 12, 2019

Location

غريان, Gheryan, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

32.169687, 13.019377 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed in a NATO airstrike on Gheryan, accoring to NPR.

The outlet wrote: “About a block away from the gunfire at the demonstration, it was possible to talk with a shopkeeper without having a government minder present. He gave his name as Ismael and said he and his family have heard bombing in the surrounding area for four straight nights.

That tallies with NATO reports, which say airstrikes in the area have targeted military hardware, such as tanks and rocket launchers. But Ismael says the strikes have also killed civilians. He gestures down the road and says you can still see the craters from a NATO airstrike that hit three cars.

‘Two kilometers, you can see too much hole inside the streets. And two men died there. Two men dead,’ he says.

Ismael says the men killed were civilians. He says his mother and father, who suffer from diabetes, have had to be taken to the hospital because of the stress of the bombing, and his children are afraid. He says he’s heard civilian casualty statistics on the pro-Gadhafi state TV channels.”

NATO did not report any strikes near Gheryan on that day.

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
  • (2 men)
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Gheryan (غريان) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Gheryan are: 32.169687, 13.019377.

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
  • (2 men)
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC134

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

سيدي السايح, Sidi as Sa'is, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.562667, 13.254399 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two children were allegedly killed in a GNA airstrike on Sidi as Sa’is.

Tripoli el Ezz reported “the death of a child from the Ashour family as a result of the bombing of a plane from Misurata.”

Arseefa said: “The children Mutasim Ashour Ali Sayeh, 6 years old, and Ali Ashour Ali Sayeh, 5 years, died and their father was injured because of indiscriminate shelling by an aircraft from the Misurata air base.”

Most other sources also reported the death of two children.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mutasim Ashour Ali Sayeh
6 years old male Brother of Ali Ashour Ali Sayeh killed
Ali Ashour Ali Sayeh
5 years old male Brother of Mutasim Ashour Ali Sayeh killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the alleged strike

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Picture supposedly showing the body of Mutasim

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Pictures of the supposed victims

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Sidi As Sais (سيدي السايح), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.562667, 13.254399. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC010

Incident date

December 28, 2014

Location

بن جواد, Bin Jawad, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

30.806667, 18.062778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two physicians were killed and seven more people were reported wounded in an alleged GNC/Libya Dawn airstrike at a field hospital in Bin Jawad, according to local sources.

James Wheeler tweeted: Two physicians were reported killed and 7 other people injured by an airstrike near a field hospital at Bin Jawad.

Multiple sources have identified two victims (doctors).

According to @EbrahimGasuda, medical staff in the field hospital in the area of Ben Jawad were wounded and two doctors killed. who were present after the bombing of fighter aircraft belonging to the militias Haftar.

However, sources didn’t say whether the victims were military personnel or civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dr. Suleiman Hajeeba
Adult male Via Al Manara Media killed
Dr Abdul Aziz Aaneibah“.
Adult male Via Al Manara Media killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows Dr Suleiman Ahjeeba, killed in an alleged GNC/Libya Dawn strike on a field hospital in Bin Jawad, Dec 28th (via Al Manara Media)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows Dr Abdul Aziz Aaneibah, killed in an alleged GNC/Libya Dawn strike on a field hospital in Bin Jawad, Dec 28th (via Al Manara Media)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a field hospital being struck in the village of Bin Jawad (بن جواد), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.806667, 18.062778. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

General National Congress (GNC) Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    General National Congress (GNC)
  • General National Congress (GNC) position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC144

Incident date

May 23, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli: Airport road, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.806027, 13.139814 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and wwo health workers were killed in an LNA airstrike on Tripoli.

The FMSC said: “The Field Medicine and Support Center is deeply saddened by the death of our colleague Dr. Rami Abdulrazzaq Shawia of the field hospital, Zahra, after being hit by a guided missile in the ambulance.”

Other sources also reported one death. Libya Alahrar TV said the LNA was responsible.

United Nations Libya tweeted: “2 more health workers killed yesterday in Tripoli, Libya.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dr. Rami Abdulrazzaq Shawia
Adult male Health worker killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Dr. Rami Abdulrazzaq Shawia (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • Statement by the FMSC
  • Statement by the Ministry of Health

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the road leading to the airport in Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.806027, 13.139814. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the road leading to the airport in Tripoli (طرابلس‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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

Sources (6) [ collapse]