Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

Lib2011-065

Incident date

April 9, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.374457, 15.087794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least five civilians were allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces shelling of Misurata.

Al Jazeera said: “A spokesman for the Libyan revolutionaries in the western city of Misurata said that the Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s brigades continued to bombard the city they besieged on Monday, killing five people and wounding more than twenty others. Meanwhile, a cautious calm prevailed in the east of the country after the rebels regained the city of Ajdabiya and began their march towards Brega.”

The source added: “A spokesman for the rebels said that the Gaddafi Brigades had, for the first time, used Russian-made Grad missiles – fired by multi-barreled launchers loaded on small trucks – on several targets in the city, especially an iron factory.”

UNICEF also noted: “The UN Children’s Fund said it had verified that children as young as 9 months have been killed in Misrata, with at least 20 child deaths and many more injuries, due to shrapnel from mortars and tanks, and bullet wounds. Almost all child deaths have occurred in the past 20 days, with a majority of child victims below 10 years of age.”

Airwars recorded eight child deaths from other Misurata events over the previous 20 days. A further 12 are summarised in this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (12 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–22
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misurata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.374457, 15.087794. Due to limited satellite imagery and 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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (12 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    21–22
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-010

Incident date

February 18, 2011

Location

البيضان, Al Bayda, Al Wahat, Libya

Geolocation

32.759849, 21.752794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 18th, 2011, 35 protestors were shot dead in al-Bayda, reported by multiple sources.

Al-Jazeera reports “In Al-Bayda, near Benghazi, human rights organizations and opposition websites reported at least 14 dead, while other sources told Al-Jazeera Net of 35 dead.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 35
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Baydaa (البيضاء), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.759849, 21.752794. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 35
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–36
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-152

Incident date

August 26, 2011

Location

مشفى أبو سليم, Abu Salim Hospital, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.854058, 13.174511 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 39 and 200 civilians died in Abu Salim hospital in Tripoli on August 26, 2011 according to multiple news sources, including Al Jazeera and BBC News.

A video by Al Jazeera shows Abu Salim hospital in Tripoli full over more than 100 dead bodies in the intensive care unit after the majority of the staff fled from violence. The reporters saw 39 bodies but is estimated that up to 150 died, with some being shot according to a witness. They describe the victims in the hospital as being both rebels and Gaddafi loyalists.

According to BBC News, about 200 people died in the hospital, including men, women, and children and pro-Gaddafi forces were responsible for killing them.

Videos posted by AFP Arabic, Popular Front for the Liberation of Libya, Ali Bob and Al Aan TV show countless dead bodies in the hospital and patients, including children, being evacuated by the International Red Cross.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    39 – 200
  • (2 children2 women2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Abu Salim hospital (باب العزيزية) in Tripoli (طرابلس‎), the generic coordinates for which are: 32.854058, 13.174511. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    39 – 200
  • (2 children2 women2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC434

Incident date

May 25, 2023

Location

السيدة زينب, Al Saida Zainab, Al Zawiya, Libya

Airwars assessment

A civilian was slightly injured, in addition to several personnel affiliated with the ministry, by declared Government of National Unity (GNU)/Turkish drone or air strikes near the Sayeda Zeinab area on May 25, 2023.

A tweet from @wady_dynar quoted spokesman for the Ambulance and Emergency Service, Osama Ali, who reported that “a person was slightly injured as a result of bombing near the Sayeda Zeinab area, south of Al-Zawiya” while the bombing in the Al Maya port did not result in any injuries. @omarbosadh reported “dead and wounded” from the bombing but did not specify who or how many.

The Government of National Unity (GNU) announced that the strikes ordered by interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah had “successfully hit their targets” which were “hideouts used by gangs of smugglers in fuel, narcotics and humans” around Zawiya, as reported by the News Arab.

However, the parliament, which is based in the east of the country, said that the target of the strikes was the home of Zawiya lawmaker Ali Bouzribah, who is a rival of the GNU government: “Parliament followed with deep concern the drone strike on Zawiya targeting the home of the city’s representative Ali Bouzribah” and the “flagrant attack… on civilians and civilian installations” said the speaker’s office. Reuters reported that according to the parliament, several personnel affiliated with the ministry were injured.

The News Arab reported that drone strikes occurred around Al-Maya, a small port. A video posted by Al Zawiya Al Hadath 24 on Facebook shows a military vehicle at a Stabilization and Support headquarters in Abu Surra. According to Reuters, three residents of Zawiya said that they heard explosions and one also heard gunfire.

The LibyaHerald stated that despite the Defense Ministry having declared the strikes, many believe that the strikes were carried out by Turkish drones, with @libyapress2010 specifically referring to Turkish Bayraktar drones. Reuters pointed out that the GNU government has no known air power of its own.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    GNA/Turkish Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Al Zawiya Al Hadath
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Al Zawiya Al Hadath 24
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Al Zawiya Al Anqaa

GNA/Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    GNA/Turkish Military
  • GNA/Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

GNA/Turkish Military
Official source

#Statement of the Ministry of Defense regarding air strikes in the West Coast region
In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful
The Ministry of Defense reports that our national aviation carried out accurate and targeted air strikes this morning against the hideouts of fuel smuggling gangs, drug trafficking and human trafficking in the West Coast region, and by the grace of God, they were successful strikes that achieved their desired goals.
The Ministry of Defense, while carrying out its national mission under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister, confirms the implementation of the instructions and the military plan set in order to purify the areas of the West Coast and the rest of Libya from the dens of crime and gang actions, and that it will never delay in carrying out its national duty.
The Ministry of Defense also calls on all citizens to fully cooperate with the military forces and the General Staff in military operations, which will not stop until all of its objectives are achieved.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    GNA/Turkish Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ040

Incident date

April 18, 2017

Location

بنغازي‎, Sabri, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.136111, 20.078889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various local sources reported heavy joint LNA and UAE air raids on “terrorist targets” in multiple Benghazi neighbourhoods near Sabri, the fish market and Sidi Akhribesh. The 18 UAE strikes were reportedly conducted by aircraft including an AT-802U.

There were no public reports of civilian harm at the time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

United Arab Emirates Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United Arab Emirates Military
  • United Arab Emirates Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC133

Incident date

May 3, 2019

Location

الكريمية, Al Keramiya, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.771657, 13.086650 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was allegedly injured by indiscriminate artillery shelling in Al Keramia area.

FMSC reported: “A child was injured as a result of the armed clashes and treated by the medical team in a field clinic of the field medicine and support center.”

Local reports of fighting point at the GNA or LNA as the perpetrator of the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the alleged victim

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Keramiya (الكريمية), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.771657, 13.086650. 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 Keramia (الكريمية).

    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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC150

Incident date

June 12, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli: Salaheddin, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.824311, 13.205922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the evening of June 12th, an airstrike struck the Customs Authority building in Salaheddin neighbourhood of Tripoli. A source told the The Libya Observer that the airstrike was carried out by “an aircraft belonging to warlord Khalifa Haftar”. According to the source, the explosion caused damage to nearby houses and injured several civilians, among whom were a man, a woman and her two children. One child was reported to be in critical condition.

An on-the-ground investigation by Amnesty International later said: “Another LNA air strike on 12 June 2019 targeted a very large house – owned by the Qreira family, in the final stages of being built, and located near a military camp – injuring a woman and a man in two adjacent homes. The woman, Hawa Jibril, told Amnesty International:

‘I was at home alone with my two daughters, aged 10 and 11. At about 6.30 or 7pm an air strike hit a field behind our house which is being built next to our home where we are living. I got scared and took my girls and run to the gate, to go out, but just as we got to the gate there was another massive strike on our house, the one which is being built, and the force of the blast threw us against the gate. Luckily my girls were not injured as I had wrapped myself around them. I smashed my face against the gate and broke my front teeth and sustained injuries all over my face and the eye, and all over my body, my back, my legs and arms. Now I have not yet recovered and my girls are still very traumatised, especially the younger one. Our neighbour was also injured but luckily less seriously.’

Fragments recovered by Amnesty International investigators at the scene of the strike on the civilian home confirm that the weapon was an unguided French SAMP 250kg bomb.”

The incident occured at approximately 7:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video showing damage caused by an airstrike that struck nearby on June 12th (via the Libya Observer). Audio Translation: "As a result of the shelling that took place outside, the force of the explosion harmed the family inside this house, resulting in material damage and injury, wounding the mother and her two children "An old man was also seriously injured by the indiscriminate bombardment of another house in the neighborhood” a fighter from the volcano of Rage operations said. "

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the customs authority building in Salaheddin, The coordinates for the customs authority building are: 32.824311 13.205922

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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC210

Incident date

October 3, 2019

Location

كلية الشرطة, Police College, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.798504, 13.221171 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed by shelling in the south of Tripoli.

Hona Souq Al-Khmies reported: “Shells falling in front of the Police College in Al Khalla, killing a Pakistani hired worker named Rehan and the outbreak of fire in the house.”

Local reports of fighting point at GNA or LNA as perpetrators of the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rehan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Police College ( كلية الشرطة) within Khela Ben Oun (خلة بن عون) for which the generic coordinates are: 32.798504, 13.221171. 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

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]