Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

Lib2011-187

Incident date

September 29, 2011

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.190547, 16.571441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed due to an attack that took place by NATO or rebels.

Various condolence pages reported the death of Hassan Rajab Jadallah Al-Qahsi Gaddafi.

NATO on that day reported hitting “1 ammunition storage area, 1 multi rocket launcher area” in the vicinity of Sirte.

There is no further information currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.190547, 16.571441. 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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 ammunition storage area, 1 multi rocket launcher area.

Libyan rebel forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Libyan rebel forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-112

Incident date

June 22, 2011

Location

سبها‎, Sabha, Libya

Geolocation

27.042552, 14.427744 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians, all of them paramedics, were allegedly killed in an apparent NATO double tap airstrike in Sabha.

Nass Book said: “A military source reported that NATO bombed civilian sites in Sabha. When the civil protection crews of the civil defense and ambulance apparatus rushed to carry out rescue operations the crusader alliance bombed these crews, resulting in the death of four of the crew and wounding ten others … Also, this Crusader bombing destroyed a number of civilian buildings and facilities, including the Civil Defense Protection Branch.”

Reuters wrote: “The Libyan Jamahiriya News Agency said airstrikes killed four civil defense workers and injured ten others on Sunday when they rushed to provide first aid to people at civilian sites hit in the alliance attack in Sabha.”

Libya Alahrar TV and Tawasul News Agency reported that NATO bombed the Faris Brigade camp.

NATO on that day reported hitting one command and control node near Sabha.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention buildings near the Civil Defense Branch (الدفاع المدني) building in Sabha (سبها) being struck, for which the general coordinates are: 27.042552, 14.427744. Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention buildings near the Civil Defense Branch (الدفاع المدني) building in Sabha (سبها) being struck.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces

In the vicinity of Sebha: 1 Command & Control Node.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-005

Incident date

February 17, 2011

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.112582, 20.082151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 17th, multiple sources reported at least 13 and as many as 20 civilian fatalities and up to 200 more injured by Gaddafi security forces in Benghazi, who were said to have fired live rounds on Gamal Abdel Nasser Street.

Al Jazeera reports “there were reports of six deaths in the Benghazi confrontations, where supporters of the Libyan regime in civilian clothes (thugs) fired live bullets at the demonstrators on Jamal Abdel Nasser Street as well as on Amr bin Al-Aas Street in the city center.”

A Facebook post from Ehab Al Shibani later named the 13 dead.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
18 years old male killed
20 years old male killed
13 years old male killed
26 years old male killed
24 years old male killed
18 years old male killed
19 years old male killed
29 years old male killed
36 years old male killed
27 years old male killed
19 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–200
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Images of all the victims, taken from https://www.facebook.com/groups/149258408469329/permalink/405694566159044/
  • Salah El-Din Al-Jahawi, taken from https://www.facebook.com/groups/166805546685121/permalink/474239765941696/
  • Images of all the victims, taken from https://www.facebook.com/145805892249838/photos/a.145806865583074/147381082092319/

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Benghazi (بنغازي‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.112582, 20.082151. 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
    13 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–200
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-146

Incident date

August 22, 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

Between seven and 16 people, including three belligerents, were killed on Abu Salim Highway in Tripoli by Gaddafi snipers on August 22, 2011.

A young man from the Abu Salim area told Libyans that 30 Gaddafi supporters were stationed on the bridge and another group were stationed under the bridge off the highway and they were shooting random cars passing by, especially those with the independence flag.

A video posted by Ahmadov2010 on YouTube shows the bodies of at least four men killed and a video by Son of Abo Salim showed the body of another man killed.

The names of the civilians killed:

Ahmed Ali Aoun

Muhammad Mustafa Al-Ashtar

Muhammad Saad, Muhammad Mushtafa’s cousin

Hazem Abd Al-Salam Al-Marimi

The incident occured at approximately 11:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 13
  • (4 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Ali Aoun
  • Muhammad Saad
  • Tariq Ali Ashkandali .. .. Ibrahim Ali Ashkandali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Muhammad Saad

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 13
  • (4 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-178

Incident date

September 23, 2011

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.20892, 16.58866 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte.

Nour al din Al Nasser Al Zanki remembered his death in 2015 saying: “Mohammed Khaled Al-Rayani, 6 years, killed 23/9/2011. A shrapnel hit the head in his father’s car.”

Azden.sert also commemorated his death posting a picture of him.

NATO on that day reported hitting “1 Ammunition Storage Facility, 1 Anti Aircraft Gun, 1 Command and Control Node, 2 Armed Vehicles” near Sirte.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

6 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.20892, 16.58866. 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
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility, 1 Anti Aircraft Gun, 1 Command and Control Node, 2 Armed Vehicles

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-059

Incident date

April 1–2, 2011

Location

ككلة, Kikla, Libya

Geolocation

32.062768, 12.6951295 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Pro Gaddafi forces bombed the town of Kikla for two consecutive days, on both April 1st and 2nd 2011 by airstrikes or artillery shelling, which resulted in 30 civilians being killed and dozens being injured according to local and international reports.

France 24 wrote: “One of the residents, who asked not to be named, said, ‘Gaddafi forces have randomly fired dozens of Grad-type shells at the city. The bombing has continued since Friday.’

‘More than 30 people were killed and dozens were injured. Many families left the city. But we have problems evacuating the elderly,’ he added.”

@libya2p0 tweeted similar information.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
  • Suspected targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kikla (ككلة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.062768, 12.6951295. 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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
  • Suspected targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-121

Incident date

June 29, 2011

Location

دوفان, Doufan, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

On June 29th, 2011, rockets on Misurata from Gaddafi forces killed one thirteen year old and injured six others. The shelling was primarily aimed at the Doufan neighborhood. The deceased thirteen year old was identified as Moftah Muhammad Jalwal, while three out of the six injured were identified, but their ages were not provided.

Multiple sources confirmed the shelling, as well as civilian casualties. A video from Al Smood Libya showed an interview following the shelling, and showed several images reported to have been a result of the bombings.

A Facebook post by Farag Akwadir stated “The brigades were concentrated in the Dofan area south of Misrata. The shelling and bombardment were directed at civilian neigborhoods and distroyed several homes and other civilian properties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male injured
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • An interview with an unnamed man, showing the aftereffects of the bombing on Misrata. Also shows an image of the one thirteen year old reported killed as part of the bombing. Video from the Al Somood libya Youtube channel, dated June 29, 2011.
  • A video showing a visit to a hospital ward and injured children, reported to be the aftermath of the June 29 2011 bombing on Misrata. Several injured children are shown, as well as an interview with an unnamed man, and a recording of a conversation of a child, reported to be Moftah Muhammad Jalwal, who was killed during the bombings. Video from the Bengazi 17 feb Youtube channel, dated June 30, 2011.
  • An image of the body of Moftah Muhammad Jalwal, a thirteen year old boy killed in the bombings on Misrata. Image is dated June 30, 2011, taken from the Bengazi 17 feb Youtube channel.
  • An image of the body of Moftah Muhammad Jalwal, a thirteen year old boy killed in the bombings on Misrata. Image is dated June 29, 2011, taken from the Al Somood libya Youtube channel.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Doufan (دوفان) neighborhood, allegedly in the south of Misurata (الغيران) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Misurata are: 32.374457, 15.087794.

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-017

Incident date

February 21, 2011

Location

قاعدة فضيل بن عمر الجويه, Benghazi, Benghazi , Libya

Geolocation

32.112582, 20.082151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 21st, 2011, nine burned bodies were found in the Fadeel ben Oumar military base, near Tripoli. The civilians had their hands tied behind their back, suspected to be due to capture by the Gaddafi forces, reported by a UN report.

The report states “on 21 February, he had been called to Fadeel ben Oumar military base, where in an underground cell, nine burned bodies were found. There was a fuel jerrycan beside the bodies. The bodies, (seemingly in civilian clothes from what remained), reportedly had their hands tied behind their back. The doctor noted they had suffered shots to the head, and he believed from the condition of the bodies that they had been burned after being killed.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • Arabic
    • Arabic

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Fadil Ben Omar Military Base (قاعدة فضيل بن عمر الجويه ), allegedly in the vicinity of Benghazi (بنغازي‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Benghazi are: 32.112582, 20.082151.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

    • Arabic
    • Arabic