Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LC123

Incident date

April 23, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli: Airport, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One man was reportedly killed by indiscriminate artillery shelling in Tripoli.

Radaa.abuslim said the Sudanese man died when a shell fell on his home hitting him in his bed. He was apparently working as a guard at a construction site near Tripoli Airport where the body was found.

Tripoli Now published a similar report: “Only a few days ago, during patrols of the branch, the body of a Sudanese guard was found at the site of the construction company at the Tripoli International Airport near the equestrian bridge because of a shell falling on a bed.”

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Pictures of the victim

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Tripoli Airport (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.665641, 13.151268. 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

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

Incident Code

Lib2011-131

Incident date

July 30, 2011

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.886602, 13.190912 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three journalists were reportedly killed in a NATO airstrike on Tripoli.

SBS News tweeted: “Three journalists have reportedly been killed in a NATO air strike while on state television in Libya.”

Uruknet wrote: “Libya says three journalists have been killed in a NATO air strike on state television, and that the murder of the rebels’ army chief proves al-Qaeda is instigating the country’s armed revolt.

‘Three of our colleagues were murdered and 15 injured while performing their professional duty as Libyan journalists,’ said Khaled Basilia, director of Al-Jamahiriya television’s English-language service.”

NATO later published a statement on the incident: “A few hours ago, NATO conducted a precision airstrike that disabled three ground-based Libyan state TV satellite transmission dishes in Tripoli. The strike, performed by NATO fighter aircraft using state-of-the art precision guided munitions, was conducted in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1973, with the intent of degrading Qadhafi’s use of satellite television as a means to intimidate the Libyan people and incite acts of violence against them.

Our intervention was necessary as TV was being used as an integral component of the regime apparatus designed to systematically oppress and threaten civilians and to incite attacks against them. Qadhafi’s increasing practice of inflammatory broadcasts illustrates his regime’s policy to instill hatred amongst Libyans, to mobilize its supporters against civilians and to trigger bloodshed.

In light of our mandate to protect civilian lives, we had to act. After due consideration and careful planning to minimize the risks of casualties or long-term damage to television transmission capabilities, NATO performed the strike and we are now in the process of assessing its effect. Striking specifically these critical satellite dishes will reduce the regime’s ability to oppress civilians while at the same time preserve television broadcast infrastructure that will be needed after the conflict.”

Amnesty International wrote on that matter that it “did not have the opportunity to monitor and analyse the full content of Libyan state television broadcasts when it was under the control of Colonel al-Gaddafi, but the question of whether Colonel al-Gaddafi is using television broadcasts to instil hatred and mobilize its supporters is not the determining criteria for whether television transmitters are military objectives. The definition of military objective in Article 52(2) of Protocol I, which reflects customary IHL, specifies that ‘military objectives are limited to those objects which by their nature, location, purpose or use make an effective contribution to military action and whose total or partial destruction, capture or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage#. Propaganda is not ‘an effective contribution to military action’ and it is difficult to consider that the destruction of the transmitters offers ‘an anticipated definite military advantage’.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video report from Libyan state TV on the incident

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.886602, 13.190912. 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
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

NATO forces
  • Mar 8, 2012

  • Transmission dishes belonging to Libyan State Television were deliberately targeted and destroyed to prevent their continued use to incite regime supporters to violence against civilians. This transmission station was a key element in broadcasting such incitement by regime leaders. Although the target had earlier been rejected because of the rhetoric broadcast over it did not at that time reach the threshold of incitement to violence, speeches made in early July reached a new level of intensity and focus. It should also be noted that the crimes against humanity (including murder and persecution) for which the International Criminal Court (ICC) had in late July indicted Col. Gaddafi and other senior regime members corresponded closely to the actions incited via the Libyan State Television transmission station. The target was struck at night, on a particular heading, to minimise any chance of injury to civilians. The dishes were targeted precisely and with low-intensity weapons to minimise the risk of collateral damage and to avoid broader disruption to the Libyan communications infrastructure. Battle damage assessment indicated that these precautions were fully successful in avoiding such injury or damage.

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Tripoli: 2 Anti-Aircraft systems

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC109

Incident date

April 10, 2019

Location

العزيزيه, Aziziyah, Jafara, Libya

Geolocation

32.530949, 13.019391 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A pregnant woman was allegedly killed between Tripoli and Aziziyah by indiscriminate shelling.

Al Mashhad Libya reported that “the border between Aziziyah and Tripoli witnessed violent clashes and a number of rocket-propelled grenades fell on the citizens’ homes, and a pregnant woman was killed when as a missile hit a house.”

Fighting in the area points at the GNA or the LNA as the perpetrator of the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the border of Tripoli (طرابلس‎) and Aziziyah (العزيزيه). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Aziziyah are: 32.530949, 13.019391.

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
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC434

Incident date

July 22, 2022

Location

زاوية الدهماني, Zawiyat Al Dahmani, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.896195, 13.206208 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civil casualties resulted from unknown shelling of the radio building in Zawiya al-Dahmani on July 22, 2022.

@AnisAbdaljawad reported that shells fell next to the radio station, Zawiya al-Dahmani.

@taqarifatnews quoted the spokesman for the Emergency and Ambulance Service, Osama Ali, who stated that the shelling next to the radio building caused casualties.

No other additional information is available to Airwars at the time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Zawiyat Al Dahmani (زاوية الدهماني) neighbourhood of Tripoli (طرابلس). The generic coordinates for Zawiyat Al Dahmani are: 32.896195, 13.206208. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[13.2051158,32.8927952],[13.2007813,32.8900024],[13.1996441,32.8893177],[13.1989789,32.8891195],[13.1982708,32.8890654],[13.1973696,32.8894258],[13.1972408,32.8905249],[13.1980777,32.8911015],[13.1974125,32.8919844],[13.1969619,32.8950834],[13.1977129,32.8952095],[13.1982923,32.8954978],[13.1989145,32.8960743],[13.1987429,32.8965067],[13.1992579,32.8968311],[13.1994939,32.8966689],[13.2000947,32.8970473],[13.2003522,32.8969211],[13.2023048,32.8972454],[13.2033563,32.8973716],[13.2043648,32.8979841],[13.204751,32.8984706],[13.20503,32.8988309],[13.205781,32.8990471],[13.2065749,32.8992993],[13.2064676,32.8995516],[13.2082272,32.8999119],[13.2088709,32.900056],[13.208828,32.9003263],[13.2092142,32.9002542],[13.2095575,32.900074],[13.2095361,32.8997498],[13.2102442,32.8993354],[13.2111239,32.898939],[13.2116818,32.8988129],[13.2124758,32.8988129],[13.2145572,32.8994074],[13.2167029,32.9001281],[13.2174325,32.9003263],[13.2175398,32.8994795],[13.2176256,32.898939],[13.2170677,32.8987769],[13.2170248,32.8974256],[13.2145143,32.8972635],[13.2136774,32.8970653],[13.2129049,32.8965788],[13.2126045,32.8958762],[13.212626,32.8949032],[13.2126045,32.8943807],[13.2094288,32.8944528],[13.2078409,32.8945249],[13.2066393,32.8937681],[13.2051158,32.8927952]]]}}]}

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC124

Incident date

April 24, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.886602, 13.190912 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly injured by indiscriminate shelling on Tripoli.

The Center for Field Medicine and Support said that Dr. Mohammed Al-Khitouni was wounded when a shell dropped near his hospital. The page posted a picture of him recovering at the hospital.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dr. Mohammed Al-Khitouni
Adult male Doctor injured

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

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.886602, 13.190912. 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

  • 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

LC156

Incident date

June 26, 2019

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 were allegedly killed by indiscriminate shelling on the Wadi al Rabie neighbourhood of Tajoura.

LCNA reported: “A random shell landed Tuesday night on the house of Mohammed Salim al-Mazouji in the Wadi Al Rabie area, killing two of his sons, in addition to his granddaughter while they were inside the house.”

Other sources published similar reports.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 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, Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ 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

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
    3
  • (1 child2 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, Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC110

Incident date

April 11, 2019

Location

السواني, Al Swani, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.712224, 13.072240 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and 12 civilians were allegedly killed by indiscriminate shelling on Al-Swani.

Tripoli Now reported: “Indiscriminate shelling of innocent people and their homes in Al-Swani axis, which led to the death of two families. Another family was injured and 12 civilians were killed so far.”

Libya Alahrar TV said one civilian was killed in Al-Swani due to shelling by Haftar (LNA) forces. In a video piece it showed the impact of the shelling.

Sputnik News blamed the GNA on the other hand: “Indiscriminate shells targeted civilian homes in the area of ​​Al-Swani southwest of Tripoli by armed forces of the Government of National Accord. The witnesses said that ‘the shells fired indiscriminately on civilian houses in Al-Swani areas in the vicinity resulted in the injury of many civilians.'”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–20
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A man allegedly injured by the shelling (via Tripoli Now)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another man allegedly injured by the shelling (via Tripoli Now)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another man allegedly injured by the shelling (via Tripoli Now)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another man allegedly injured by the shelling (via Tripoli Now)
  • Video showing the aftermath of the strike

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Swani (السواني), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.712224, 13.07224. 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–20
  • 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

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]