Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

LC173

Incident date

July 27, 2019

Location

الهضبة البدري, Al Hadaba Al Badri, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.836207, 13.213150 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians were reported killed resulting from indiscriminate artillery shelling on the Al Hadba Al Badri neighbourhood of Tripoli.

The Libya Observer reported: “The National Safety Authority says two people died as a result of a shell falling on their home in Al Hadaba Al Badri area south of Tripoli.”

Libya Al Alahrar TV wrote: “The National Safety Authority in Tripoli confirmed the death of two people because a shell landed on a house in Al Hadaba Al-Badri area.”

Ambulance Services Libya said: “Ambulance rescue and ambulance teams are providing emergency services to the injured following the fall of shells on a residential neighborhood in Al Hadaba Al Badri area in the capital Tripoli, causing the deaths of two children and a man.”

Al Motawaset later named three victims likely from this incident.

Local reports of fighting point at shelling by either GNA or LNA.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Al-Haj
Age unknown male killed
Miloud Ambiya
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the aftermath

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Hadaba Al Badri (الهضبة البدري), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.836207, 13.21315. 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 Al Hadaba Al Badri (الهضبة البدري).

    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 type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC092

Incident date

September 20, 2018

Location

وادي الربيع, Wadi al Rabie, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.743819, 13.357047 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported killed in Tajoura because of indiscriminate artillery shelling.

Wagak Original said on Twitter that three initially unidentified bodies were found in the Al Khala area and sent to the Tripoli Medical Hospital. They were then “identified as Khairi Bizik and his brother Karim Bizik and Hamza Goma.” The source added that they were hit by indiscriminate shelling at a traffic light in the Wadi al Rabie area.

Other sources on social media published similar reports, Mohamed Al Megrahi posted graphic pictures of the three victims on Facebook.

Local reports indicate that the 7th Brigade and GNA-affiliated militias were shelling around Tajoura that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Khairi Bizik
Adult male Via Wagak Original killed
Karim Bizik
Adult male Via Wagak Original killed

The victims were named as:

Hamza Goma
Adult male Via Wagak Original killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of an alleged victim (via Mohamed Al Megrahi)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of an alleged victim (via Mohamed Al Megrahi)
  • Image of another supposed victim (via Tripoli Tewa)

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
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC082

Incident date

June 6, 2018

Location

شميخ, Shumaykh, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

31.435742498574424, 13.958174302831182 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

AFRICOM reported that it conducted a precision strike on ISIS near Bani Walid. While the US itself said that 4 members of the organisation were killed in the attack, including senior member Abdul-Ati Eshtewi, on a vehicle, local sources reported that three of the people in the car were actually civilians.

Alrseefa reported: “Reconciliation in Tripoli is a violation of human rights and the fate of the Libyan citizen, where the operation resulted in the killing of three innocent citizens have nothing to do with ISIS, […] note that these young people:

Matouq Saad Milad Yaga
Mohammed Wanis Abusta
Selim Mohammed Al-Drouei

do not carry any radical thought.”

Marsad reported: “The same source told Al-Marsad that Eshtewi was killed by the raid in the Wadi al-Baqayla area west of the Shamikh area, referring to the killing of three young men with relatives who are not belonging to ISIS calling during their presence in the same car targeted by the bombing by an unknown aircraft.

Libya Observer reported: “Meanwhile, a source from Bani Walid confirmed to The Libya Observer that three civilians and one ISIS fugitive – all from Bani Walid – were killed in the airstrike.” It added: “‘Eshtewi and his three relatives haven’t seen each other for a long time, so Eshtewi contacted them using Thuraya phone to have Ramadan Iftar with them in Eshmikh, some 35 km south of Bani Walid town.’ The source said. The three civilians were identified as Matouq Milad, Mohammed Abu Sittah and Salim Daroue.”

While AFRICOM only reported the strike was conducted near Bani Walid, local sources said it was in Shumaykh, 35km south of Bani Walid.

On June 20th AFRICOM published a statement on the civilian harm allegation saying: “In coordination with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), U.S. forces conducted a precision airstrike near Bani Walid, Libya, on June 6, killing four (4) ISIS-Libya militants, as previously released.

Following reports alleging civilian casualties resulting from this operation, U.S. Africa Command performed a thorough review and determined the allegations of civilian casualties to be not credible.

As with any allegation of civilian casualties, U.S. Africa Command reviewed all available relevant information concerning the incident.

The command complies with the law of armed conflict and takes all feasible precautions to minimise civilian casualties and other collateral damage.”

In its June 2018 report, UNSMIL reported: “On 5 June, three civilians were killed in an airstrike claimed by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) near Beni Walid. The three were riding in a vehicle with a member of a UN-designated terrorist group when hit.”

Jana reported that the Bani Walid Municipal Council demanded an investigation into the case and “was waiting for an official apology for the unjustified killing.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Matouq Saad Milad Yaga
Adult male Via Libya 24 killed
Mohammed Wanis Abusta
Adult male Via Libya 24 killed
Selim Mohammed Al-Drouei
Adult male Via Libya 24 killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the destroyed vehicle
  • Images of those reportedly killed in the strike (Al Marsad)
  • Abdul-Ati Eshtewi in 2014 (via Al Marsad)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Shumaykh (شميخ). The coordinates for Shumaykh are: 31.435742498574424, 13.958174302831182.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC066

Incident date

March 29, 2017

Location

درنة الفتايح, Al Fatayah, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.733611, 22.645278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An LNA airplane conducted strikes in Al-Fatayih, according to various sources. Libya Al Mostakbal reported there were no human casualties but a herd of sheep got hit and some of the animals were killed.

Several sources claimed that the plane later crashed over Tobruk into the Tersha neighbourhood, which led to the death of the pilot Saleh Jawda.

Mohamed Idris Mansori later posted a statement from the Derna Shura Council on Twitter stating that there were casualties from the airstrike itself. However, the plane crashed into the house of the Elkishi family, killing both husband and wife. Libyan News Network‎ said that three residents died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Image: Libya Observer
  • Image: Alnabaa

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Fatayah (درنة الفتايح), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.733611, 22.645278. 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 Al Fatayah (درنة الفتايح).

    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
    2 – 3
  • 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 (14) [ 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

LC028

Incident date

March 18, 2016

Location

شواطئ بنغازي, Benghazi Shoreline, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.070429, 20.0019836 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The LNA targeted a marine trailer reportedly carrying 10 tanks, 3 containers of ammunition and a number of vehicles off the shores of Benghazi at around 03:00 according to its Facebook page.

In an apparent maritime version of a double tap strike, the LNA further reported that other boats then tried to save the people on the trailer but suggests that its planes struck them before they arrived: “As for the individuals on board of the vessels, three boats tried to rescue them in a desperate attempt to rescue them but the eagles of the air were on time and waiting for them.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A video published by LNA that shows footage of several airstrikes conducted in Benghazi (Source: LAN media)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the shoreline of Benghazi (بنغازي‎) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Benghazi are: 32.070429, 20.0019836.

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
    0 – 2
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC064

Incident date

March 12, 2017

Location

راس لانوف, Ras Lanuf: Oil Port, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

30.487363, 18.584418 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An LNA airstrike allegedly killed two security guards at the oil port near Ras Lanuf. The airstrike was reportedly conducted in the evening.

Libya Alkhabar reported: “Commander of the Petroleum Facilities Guard, Brigadier General Idris Bukhmadah, said in a statement from the city of Ras Lanuf that the Guard of Petroleum Facilities follows the National Oil Corporation and has nothing to do with political clashes and conflicts and does not have any combat duties, but rather its duty to secure and facilitate the operations of the National Oil Corporation.”

No further details were provided on the identity of the victims and the locations of the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image: Libya Alkhabar

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Oil Port in Ras Lanuf (راس لانوف), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.487363, 18.584418. 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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC089

Incident date

September 14, 2018

Location

كورى بوقودى, Kouri Bougoudi, Murzuq, Libya

Geolocation

23.482406, 15.962053 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed in an alleged Chadian helicopter strike on an illegal gold mine in Kouri Bougoudi at the Libyan-Chadian border.

Reuters wrote: “Chadian army helicopters killed two civilians in bombing runs over a gold mining town along the Libyan border, where government forces have clashed with a fledgeling rebel movement, a family member of the victims and an intelligence official said.

Two helicopters attacked the town of Kouri Bougoudi on Thursday and the two men died from their wounds on Friday, the family member, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters. Two other civilians were wounded in the attacks, the person said.

An intelligence source, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that two civilians were killed in the raids.

Chad’s army spokesman declined to comment.”

Tchad Today named the victims as Galmai Dirdemi and Hassan Kelle Lony.

Al Wihda Info provided more details on the attack: “Last Thursday, the day of the bombing, the helicopters flew low over two camps suspected of harbouring gold miners. The bombing was remotely controlled thanks to the GPS position of the target. For a few minutes, the helicopters dropped bombs and fired a 17-gauge weapon. The aim was to neutralize the individuals in these two camps, according to concordant sources.”

It further reported that “gold miners on the scene accuse the air force of having used in this helicopter firing cluster bombs and submunitions against the two camps, to neutralize their target. This former rebel officer was wounded in the bombing but his life is no longer engaged, said his family to Al Wihda Info.”

218 TV also reported on the strike but didn’t name the belligerent or mention civilian harm.

As the illegal gold mines are exactly placed along the border it is contested among the sources whether the strike took place in Libya or Chad. Le Monde Afrique said it was in “the extreme north” of Chad, while a map of gold mines published by ag on Twitter puts the location of Kouri Boudgoudi on the Libyan side of the border. Arnaud Delalande also reported airstrikes on Kilinje which is deeper inside Libyan territory and used by Chadian rebels to illegaly source gold.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Galmai Dirdemi
Age unknown Via Tchad Today killed
Hassan Kelle Lon
Age unknown Via Tchad Today killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Chadian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tchad Today showing images of the victims
  • Map of the border area placing Kouri Bougoudi inside Libya
  • Menastream showing the impact of the strike
  • Menastream showing the impact of the strike
  • Menastream showing the impact of the strike
  • Menastream showing the impact of the strike

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Kouri Bougoudi (كورى بوقودى), for which the generic coordinates are: 23.482406, 15.962053. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Chadian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Chadian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]