Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LC377

Incident date

May 3, 2020

Location

بني وليد, Bani Walid, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

31.796814, 14.055061 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were allegedly killed by a GNA or Turkish drone strike near Bani Walid.

Osama Olabidy tweeted that two young men from the Mashashiya tribe were killed while trying to selling to sell fuel in Bani Walid. In a previous tweet he said they were driving a Toyota Tundra.

218Tv wrote that “there were reports of drone air strikes belonging to Al-Wefaq [GNA] forces to points south of Bani Walid, and the shelling targeted a civilian Tundra car … and killed two people from the Mashashiya.”

The no to military rule Facebook page said the two were in fact LNA member and had been killed by airstrike on Watiyah air base.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Victim allegedly killed in a drone strike near Bani Walid on May 3rd, 2020 (via No to military rule)
  • Victim allegedly killed in a drone strike near Bani Walid on May 3rd, 2020 (via No to military rule)
  • Victim allegedly killed in a drone strike near Bani Walid on May 3rd, 2020 (via No to military rule)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Bani Walid (بني وليد), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.796814, 14.055061. 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

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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, Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC406

Incident date

May 20, 2020

Location

الاصابعة, Asabi'ah, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.516483, 13.167439 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and eight civilians, including one child, were allegedly killed by a Turkish drone strike on Asabi’ah.

Libya Witness tweeted: “6 civilians, including a child, were killed in a Turkish raid in the city of Asabi’ah, western Libya.”

A pro-LNA Twitter account said seven civilians and a child were killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Asabi’ah (الاصابعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.516483, 13.167439. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-132

Incident date

July 31, 2011

Location

مرسى البريقة, Brega, Al Wahat, Libya

Geolocation

30.411123, 19.570076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was allegedly injured by a NATO or rebel airstrike on Brega.

Surt Son posted a video on Youtube showing the victim named Mohamed Musa. According to the video he was injured by artillery shelling on his home which would point at the rebels as the culprit. The description however says he was bombed by NATO planes.

NATO on this day reported striking “1 Armed Military Vehicle, 6 Multiple Rocket Launchers” in the vicinity of Brega.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Brega (مرسى البريقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.411123, 19.570076. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-194

Incident date

October 2, 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

A single source reported that one child was critically injured by an attack by NATO and was being treated at a hospital in Sirte in October 2nd, 2011.

NATO on that day reported hitting “1 multiple rocket launcher, 1 armed vehicle” 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image from a video capturing the child who is in a critical condition in Ibn Sina hospital as a result of indiscriminate bombing by the NATO (via Surt Son Youtube)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Caption translation: "Child victim of indiscriminate bombing". In the video, the narrator mentioned that the child was at his house and that he does not exceed 10 years old. It was also mentioned that he is being treated at Ibn Sina hospital.

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 multiple rocket launcher, 1 armed vehicle.

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-106

Incident date

June 7, 2011

Location

باب العزيزية‎ , Bab Al Aziziya, Tripoli, Libya

Airwars assessment

At least 29 civilians were killed by NATO airstrikes on Tripoli, according to the Gaddafi regime.

Al Jazeera noted at the time: “Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said that at least 29 people were killed in 60 air strikes targeting the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Tuesday evening, while Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi pledged in an audio speech today to fight to the death.”

The BBC also quoted the spokesperson. Other sources only mentioned heavy bombardment.

The Sirte Martyrs condolence page later named one victim.

NATO itself declared the following airstrikes on June 7th: “In Tripoli: 5 Command & Control Facilities, 1 Vehicle Storage Facility, 2 Self-Propelled Antiaircraft Guns, 1 Air Surveillance Radar. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Facility.” And Air Cdre Ian Wood said the British RAF had taken part in the strikes on Tripoli on that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 29
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video showing the alleged victims
  • Video showing the damage of the attack

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention multiple strikes on the Bab Al Aziziya compound (باب العزيزية‎) in the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.871944, 13.172222. Structural damage can be seen from the satellite imagery, however we are unable to confirm if all damage occurred from the same event.

  • Reports of the incident mention a series of strikes hitting the Bab Al Aziziya compound (باب العزيزية‎) in the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎). Structural damage can be seen from the satellite imagery, however we are unable to confirm if all damage occurred from the same event. Left is an image from 7th Mar 2011, and right from 26th Jul 2011.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Gaddafi Forces

07 JUNE: In Tripoli: 5 Command & Control Facilities, 1 Vehicle Storage Facility, 2 Self-Propelled Antiaircraft Guns, 1 Air Surveillance Radar. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Facility.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 29
  • (1 man)
  • 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
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-009

Incident date

February 18, 2011

Location

قرب قاعدة حسين الجويفل في الشحات, Near Hussein Al Jaweifi Military Base, Jabal al Akhdar, Libya

Geolocation

32.804491, 21.876513 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 18th, 2011, Amnesty International reported that two civilians were reported killed at the protests in the Hussein al-Jaweifi military base in Shahat, from soldiers who fired at the protestors. Ruqayya al-Mabrok al-Hassi, an 11 year old girl, was killed as a result of a stray bullet.

Amnesty quotes “A bullet fired from the base struck a building across the main road, killing 12-year-old Roqaya Fawzi Mabrouk as she was looking out of her bedroom window at about 3am.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Child female killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ruqayya Al-Mabrouk Al-Hassi, who was the first reported child killed in protests. From the February 17th martyrs Facebook page "https://www.facebook.com/259971927376077/photos/a.259986060707997/262449503794986/"

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Hussein Al Jaweifi military base (قاعدة حسني الجويفي العسكرية) in the town of Shahat (شحات), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.804491, 21.876513. 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
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-150

Incident date

August 23, 2011

Location

باب عكاره, Bab Akkara, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.866912, 13.173494 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 15 and 19 men, including three medical personnel, were killed and at least six others were injured between Gargur and the Gaddafi compound at Bab al-Aziziyah in Tripoli on August 23, 2011.

A member of the rebel forces witnessed 15 bodies, all in civilian clothes and all of them handcuffed behind the back with electric cable or handcuffs, being loaded into a truck outside of the Gaddafi compound.

Another witness saw Gaddafi forces stop an ambulance with “17 February” written on the side and shoot the three men on board, two men in medical scrubs and the driver.

Another witness was detained at the same checkpoint and saw a man who had a card identifying him as a Tripoli rebel shot in the head. The witness and his friend were beaten and held in a shop in Bab Aukara where four detainees were already being held and had undergone severe torture. This same witness also witnessed the medical staff being executed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 19
  • (15–19 men3 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Bab Akkara (باب عكاره) neighbourhood of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), the generic coordinates for which are: 32.866912, 13.173494. Reports of the incident also mention a riverbed which runs along the neighbourhood’s southwestern edge. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Bab Akkara (باب عكاره) neighbourhood of Tripoli (طرابلس‎). Reports of the incident also mention a riverbed which runs along the neighbourhood’s southwestern edge.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 19
  • (15–19 men3 healthcare_personnel)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (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.

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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]