All Belligerents in Libya, 2011

All Belligerents in Libya, 2011

Mourners in Majer, Libya in 2011 following a NATO airstrike which killed at least 34 civilians, according to multiple reports. Image courtesy of Sidney Kwiram/ Human Rights Watch

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Belligerent Assessment
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Incident Code

Lib2011-108

Incident date

June 12, 2011

Location

الزنتان, Al Zintan, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

31.996513, 12.003225 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nine civilians were allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling of Zintan.

Al Jazeera noted at the time: “On his part, a spokesman for the rebels said on Monday that nine people were killed and more than forty others were wounded on Sunday when forces loyal to Gaddafi bombed the town of Zintan, held by the rebels, in the west of the country.”

17 Feb Revolution wrote: “Libyan opposition spokesman said on Monday that nine people were killed on Sunday when forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi bombed the opposition-held Zintan town with artillery and missiles.

‘Nine were killed because of the bombing… yesterday, and more than 40 others were wounded, the spokesman, Abdul Rahman, told Reuters by phone from Zintan. ‘It was the heaviest bombardment in several weeks.'”

Other sources reported the same death toll.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other, Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Funeral of victims allegedly killed in the incident

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Zintan (الزنتان) being struck, for which the generic coordinates are: 31.996513, 12.003225. Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other, Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-002

Incident date

February 15, 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 16th, between 6:30 and 7:45 PM local time, multiple sources reported one death and multiple injuries in Benghazi after the breakup by security forces of a sit-in.

The reported death was of Khaled al-Naji ‘Abderrazeq Khanfar, a 22 year old student who was shot by Gaddafi security forces.

Amnesty quotes the father of Khaled, “We had closed the shop and gone home and I told him not to go out but he wanted to go to check as our shop is right next to the ISA building where there was the demonstration. He went out at about 7.30pm to 8pm and less than an hour later we received a call that he had been killed. He was shot in the chest.”

Reuters, DW Arabic, and various Twitter reports confirmed additional injuries.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–38
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (10) [ collapse]

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.

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Gaddafi Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–38
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-144

Incident date

August 21, 2011

Location

غرغور, Gharghour, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

At least 17 people were killed in the Gargur district in Tripoli by pro-Gaddafi forces according to BBC News.

Human Rights Watch says that pro-Gaddafi forces were holding the dead in a building belonging to the Libyan Internal Security Forces and that they were physically tortured before they were killed. According to a doctor, half of the dead were shot in the back of the head, making it hard to identify their faces.

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
    17
  • (17 other protected persons)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the area of Gharghour (غرغور) in Tripoli (طرابلس‎), 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.

  • Reports of the incident mention the area of Gharghour (غرغور) in Tripoli (طرابلس‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (17 other protected persons)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-188

Incident date

September 30, 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

Two videos refer to a strike by NATO that took place in Sirte. The videos are capturing civilians who were killed and injured, including children inside a hospital in Sirte in September 30th 2011.

It is to be noted that the sources are affiliated with the Gaddafi regime.

NATO did not report strikes around Sirte on that day.

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    NATO forces, Libyan rebel forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The video is capturing civilians who were killed and injured due to the NATO strike in a hospital in Sirte in September 30th 2011 (via TV arrai)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video showing injured children in a hospital as a result of a NATO strike in September 30th 2011 (viaSurt Son)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured girl by the NATO strike in Sirte in a hospital being treated in September 30th 2011 (picture from Surt Son youtube)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of an injured girl in a hospital being treated in Sirte due to a NATO strike in September 30th 2011 (picture from Surt Son youtube)

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:

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

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
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    NATO forces, Libyan rebel forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-050

Incident date

March 27, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

On March 27th 2011, Gaddafi forces were reported to have indiscriminately bombed Misurata city using airstrikes or artillery shelling which led to at least three civilian deaths and also injured others, according to a single known source.

Al Jazeera, citing AFP, reported: “The same agency quoted a doctor as saying that three people were killed on Saturday, which raises to 117 the death toll since March 18 in the attack by Gaddafi forces on this city, which is the third largest city in the country and the most important city controlled by the rebels in the west.”

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-023

Incident date

February 25, 2011

Location

الزاوية, Al Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.759709, 12.732495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 25th, 2011, Gaddafi forces bombed a mosque in Al Zawiya, killing ten using artillery and aircraft. No additional information on the victims was reported, although the deaths were reported by multiple sources on Twitter.

@alahlawy29 tweeted “an eyewitness from Al-Zawiya to Al-Jazeera: Anti-tanks and aircraft are used against demonstrators in Libya.”

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
    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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a mosque being struck in the city of Zawiya (الزاوية‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Zawiya are: 32.759709, 12.732495.

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
    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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-014

Incident date

February 19, 2011

Location

نادي الحيا, Nadi Al Hiyat Football Ground, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.373889, 15.085000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 19th, 2011, four protestors were shot by Gaddafi security forces, and between three to five other protestors were injured in Misrata. Amnesty and Wiki News confirmed the casualties.

Among the victims were Khaled Abu Shahma, a 42 year old firefighter and father of seven, Ali Hussein al-Dweik, a 43 year old journalist, and 30 year old Khaled Ibrahim al-Sriti, and 22 year old Abdel Hakim Ahmed Abou Zakiya, and an unnamed 27 year old stationary shop owner.

Amnesty quotes “100 demonstrations started on 19 February, initially in solidarity with protesters in Benghazi. After security forces used force and firearms, protesters started calling for the downfall of the al-Gaddafi regime Almost immediately, the first protester was killed. Khaled Abu Shahma, a 42-year-old firefighter and father of seven, was shot in the abdomen at about 3pm and died shortly after.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Abu Shahma
42 years old male killed
Ali Hussein al-Dweik
43 years old male killed
Khaled Ibrahim al-Sriti
30 years old male killed
Abdel Hakim Ahmed Abou Zakiya
22 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Nadi Al Hiyat football ground (نادي الحيا) in the city of Misrata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.373889, 15.085000. 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
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-142

Incident date

August 20, 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

At least 15 people were killed in Tripoli on August 20, 2011 according to an Islamtoday post on Facebook. It is unknown whether those killed were civilians or fighters and it is unknown who killed them. The bodies were buried around the time that the Libyan revolutionaries attacked Libya.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 15
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–15

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 15
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–15

Sources (3) [ collapse]