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

LC178a

Incident date

August 8, 2019

Location

بندلوة, مرزق, Bendalwah, Murzuq, Murzuq, Libya

Geolocation

25.919023, 13.923895 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were allegedly killed and four children injured by a mortar shell in Murzuq.

OCHA reported: “On 8 August, a mortar landed on a house hosting IDPs in the Bendalwah neighborhood resulting in injuries among four children between 2 and 7 years-old and the death of two siblings.”

Other sources picked up on the report and quoted OCHA on the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Bendalwah (بندلوة), allegedly within Murzuq (مرزق) town. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Murzuq are: 25.919023, 13.923895.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC019

Incident date

July 23, 2015

Location

بنغازي‎: مستشفى الجمهورية, Republic Hospital, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.127252, 20.071549 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Russia Today, “medical sources in the city of Benghazi said that two people died and ten were wounded on Thursday (July 23rd) in clashes in the city centre between army forces and Islamist militants.”

Ewan Libya reported that one civilian was killed after a shell fell on the Ben Younis area.

Local sources reported LNA airstrikes with MiG-23 as well as Mi-25 and Mi-35 helicopters near Bouhdeima, Sabri, the fish market area and Leithi.

Other sources also reported fierce clashes in the Sabri area but made no mention of civilian casualties.

According to Alarab, “clashes were renewed in the city of Benghazi, between the Libyan army with the support of civilians, and elements of Islamic State and the Shura Council of the rebels in Benghazi. This led to the displacement of a number of people. Sources said the clashes were taking place in the area of Bouhdeima in Benghazi, east of the country, between the army and armed militias, while the Libyan army planes bombed the positions of militants.”

Egy News also spoke of an intense bombardment, reporting shelling of “the dens of terrorists with heavy artillery and tanks, in addition to air strikes from the eagles of the air force”.

Other sources – @AlmanaraMedia and @EanLibya – tweeted that “explosive barrels” were dropped on the area – but again, made no mention of civilian casualties.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention airstrikes targeting ammunition depots near Benghazi’s Republic Hospital (مستشفى الجمهورية), for which the coordinates are: 32.127252, 20.071549. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Image showing the location of the Republic Hospital in Benghazi, near where the airstrike targeted.

    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
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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 (17) [ 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]

Incident Code

LC027

Incident date

March 15, 2016

Location

الهواري, Al-Hawary, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.013102, 20.126642 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The LNA posted a video of a helicopter squadron targeting alleged terrorists. The video depicts people caught in explosions, and vehicles and buildings suffering damage.

However the combatant status of those hit is unclear.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention airstrikes in the Al Hawary (الهواري) neighborhood of Benghazi (بنغازي). After investigating visual material from sources, we narrowed this location down to a mosque northwest of the cement factory, the exact coordinates for which are: 32.013102, 20.126642.

  • Image showing helicopter airstrike targeting mosque near cement factory.

    Imagery:
    Ansar Al-Sharia

  • Satellite image showing mosque targeted by airstrike in previous image.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC002

Incident date

January 19, 2014

Location

قويرة المال, Qweira al Mal, Sabha, Libya

Geolocation

27.181167, 14.533500 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were reportedly killed in an air or artillery strike in Sabha in the south of Libya.

A pro-Gaddafi page on Facebook identified the victims as the 14-year-old and a 17-years-old, and another victim at 14 years old, who lost his leg. It added that they were killed in the Hey al Hijara neighbourhood. Another child was reportedly injured.

Libya Sky reported the location of the strike as Qweira al Mal gate at the northern entrance to the city of Sabha (Jebel Ali region) on Sunday, targeting a gathering of armed groups outside.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ramadan Faraj Khalifa
14 years old male Via @against.theday17inLibyan killed
Ayman Massoud Ali
17 years old male Via @against.theday17inLibyan killed
Mu’tasim Mohammed Belaid,
14 years old male Via @against.theday17inLibyan injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Qweira al Mal gate (قويرة المال) for which the coordinates are: 27.181167, 14.533500.  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
    1
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]