Libya – Airwars

The Civilian Harm Watchdog

Civilian Casualty Archive

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1266 incidents

Incident Date

31 August–1 September, 2017

Incident Code

Location

حرمك, Kunya Barrow near Barawe, Middle Juba, Somalia

The US said it carried out a strike near Barawe in southern Somalia on August 31st, killing one al Shabaab fighter and wounding one other. AP reported that "At least one missile struck a location outside Barawe that the extremists often use to launch attacks on the government-held town, a Somali intelligence official said. He…

Summary

Airstrike (Drone Strike)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Bariire, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

The US military and the Somali government announced they were investigating reports that ten civilians, including three children, were killed during an operation on a farm in Bariire, in Somalia's southern Lower Shabelle region. However, on November 28th 2017, the US published a press release concluding that only "armed enemy combatants" were killed. Earlier that…

Summary

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Civilians reported killed

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Small arms and light weapons

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

الحدود الليبية المصرية, Libyan-Egyptian border, Al Butnan, Libya

Egyptian warplanes targeted nine SUVs that were claimed to be carrying weapons and explosives at the Libyan border. On its own Facebook page, the Egyptian military noted that “Today 21 August 2017 … the Egyptian Air Force destroyed 9 cars with arms, ammunition and explosives on the western border with Libya.” There are no known…

Summary

Egyptian Military

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Incident Date

16–17 August, 2017

Incident Code

Location

Sheikh Ahmed Yare, 15 miles from Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

Seven civilians from the same family including a wife and husband died in US airstrikes which reportedly hit civilian homes near Jilib, according to two reports. The victims are named below. The US announced it carried out a series of attacks between August 16th and 17th, allegedly killing up to seven al Shabaab fighters. However…

Summary

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Civilians reported killed

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Shashweyne, Banaadir, Somalia

According to a Freedom of Information request obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, this previously unknown US strike took place in the vicinity of Shashweyne, Bandir region, Somalia against al-Shabaab fighters. In its FOIA response, AFRICOM again confirmed it had targeted what it says were "AS fighters", in the vicinity of Shashweyne, Banadir…

Summary

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Banaadir, Somalia

The US carried out two "kinetic" strikes against al Shabaab members in the Banadir region of southern Somalia on August 10th, US Africa Command announced. There were no known associated public reports of civilian harm. As AFRICOM itself has treated these as distinct events, we have separated them here. A press release from the Somali…

Summary

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

درنة‎, port, Darnah, Libya

The LNA reportedly targeted a boat off the coast of Derna which it said was transporting fighters and weapons to the Shura Council. According to the faction, the boat “carried terrorists, ammunition and weapons to terrorist gangs in the city of Derna.” The fate of any civilian crew on board the vessel is presently unknown.

Summary

Libyan National Army

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

درنة, Dhar al-Hamr, Darnah, Libya

Airstrikes hit residential homes in Derna, according to a local report. Libya 24 reported that the LNA bombed in the vicinity of Kasarah in Derna, striking houses belonging to the Burebihah family. The report did not mention whether civilians were inside at the time of the strike, or whether there were any casualties.

Summary

Libyan National Army

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed a US strike killed Ali Muhammad Hussein, believed to be a high-level al Shabaab commander. No civilians were reported to have been killed or injured in the strike. The strike took place in Tortoroow in southern Somalia at around 1500 local time on July 30th, reportedly killing Jabal alone. Africom…

Summary

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

On November 17th, US Africa Command sent the Bureau of Investigative Journalism a list of previously unreported actions, which included this strike. An AFRICOM spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did not proactively release information about…

Summary

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Southern Somalia, Bay, Somalia

On November 17th 2017, US Africa Command sent the Bureau of Investigative Journalism a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one. No casualties were reported. An AFRICOM spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did…

Summary

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Galcayo, Mudug, Somalia

A suspected al Shabaab associate who once lived in the US was arrested during a mission in Somalia, a US Africa Command spokesperson told AP. It was a Somali-led mission with “limited tactical advisory support” from the US, spokesperson Jennifer Dyrcz said. The suspect, identified as Abdirizak Tahlil, was accused of “facilitating the use of improvised…

Summary

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Al Fatayah, Darnah, Libya

Various local sources reported an LNA MiG-23 bombing various locations in Derna, including Hajaj, Al-Fatayih and the Hossein neighbourhood. Emhona 99’s Twitter feed carried pictures of what it said was a civilian farmhouse damaged in the strike. And Libya News noted: “News reports close to the Karama operation said the bombing targeted what it described…

Summary

Libyan National Army

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

On November 17th, US Africa Command sent the Bureau of Investigative Journalism a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one. No casualties were reported. An AFRICOM spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did not…

Summary

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Gaduud, Lower Juba, Somalia

On November 17th 2017, US Africa Command sent the Bureau of Investigative Journalism a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one. An AFRICOM spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did not proactively release information…

Summary

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Libyan-Egyptian border, Al Butnan, Libya

Egyptian airstrikes targeted 15 vehicles reportedly loaded with weapons near the border with Libya as they attempted to enter Egypt. According to Egyptian military sources cited by Libya’s Channel, “Egyptian armed forces have carried out military operations during the twenty-four last hour, building intelligence information, according to the gathering of a number of criminal elements…

Summary

Egyptian Military

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Sunguuni, Lower Juba, Somalia

On November 17th 2017, US Africa Command sent the Bureau of Investigative Journalism a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one. An AFRICOM spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did not proactively release information…

Summary

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

حرمك, Kunya Barrow, Middle Juba, Somalia

US and Somali special forces carried out a night raid on an al Shabaab-held village in southern Somalia, the district commissioner and a senior Somali intelligence official told reporters. It was the second US operation in the village in two weeks. "Several al-Shabaab fighters" are thought to have been killed according to NBC. Two helicopters…

Summary

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Military actors reported killed

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Luglaaw, Lower Juba, Somalia

US forces were involved in a "self-defence strike operation" with Somali National Army (SNA) forces "against an al Shabaab troop concentration" in the country's south, according to an Africa Command (AFRICOM) press release. The statement did not include a casualty count, saying it "will continue to assess the results of the operation, and will provide…

Summary

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

حرمك, Kunya Barrow, Middle Juba, Somalia

A US airstrike in the Lower Shabelle region targeting al Shabaab insurgents killed one member of the terror group, according to AFRICOM. The victim may have been the leader of the group's intelligence wing, Andullahi Haji Daud. There are currently no known associated reports of civilian harm. The strike hit in the south of the…

Summary

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

بنغازي‎, Municipal hotel, Benghazi, Libya

Various sources reported 17 LNA airstrikes in central Benghazi near the municipal hotel.

Summary

Libyan National Army

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Incident Date

2–10 July, 2017

Incident Code

Location

O'wdhiile, 55 miles south of Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

An airstrike reportedly killed up to two civilians in O'wdhille, a village about 55 miles south of Mogadishu, according to findings from a field investigation by The Nation. Reporter Amanda Sperber detailed the account of Osman [not his real name] whose relatives were reportedly killed in the strike: "Around 5 pm in early July 2017, Osman…

Summary

Civilians reported killed

Civilians reported injured

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya

According to local sources, "intensive" air raids were launched on Sabri. 218 TV claimed they were conducted by LNA planes. Emhona said on Twitter they were conducted by Emirati or Egyptian warplanes. No civilians harm from the event is presently known.

Summary

LNA/UAE Military/Egyptian Military

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

الحدود الليبية المصرية, Libyan-Egyptian border, Al Butnan, Libya

According to Reuters and local sources, Egyptian airstrikes destroyed 12 vehicles allegedly carrying weapons and explosives near the border between Libya and Egypt. The sources were conflicted as to whether the incident took place inside Libya or Egypt, with most of them stating it was in Libya. However, Libya Herald noted the following: “The Egyptian…

Summary

Egyptian Military

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Sabri, Benghazi, Libya

Local sources reported almost 30 new air raids on Benghazi by LNA forces, mostly centred near the Sabri and fish market areas. There were no known public reports of civilian harm at the time.

Summary

Libyan National Army

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya

Two Facebook sources claimed that 13 “foreign airstrikes” had struck Benghazi, but seem to have copied one another on the information. There were no known public reports of civilian harm at the time.

Summary

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Bohol Jawarey, Middle Juba, Somalia

A US strike on an al Shabaab "command and logistics node" killed eight members of the group, according to a US Africa Command press release. There were claims that Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame, a commander of the terror group's intelligence wing was killed in the strike, though this was not confirmed by AFRICOM. No civilians were…

Summary

Airstrike (Drone Strike)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

بنغازي‎, Omar al-Mukhtar mausoleum, Benghazi, Libya

Local sources reported airstrikes in multiple areas of Benghazi – including Sabri, the fish market area at the tomb of Omar al-Mukhtar, the municipal hotel, the Republic Hospital and the Al-Nuran Hotel. According to a report in Akhbar Alaan, the LNA announced ten strikes on militants in the city. Other sources put the number of…

Summary

LNA/UAE Military/Egyptian Military

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Welmarow, Lower Juba, Somalia

AFRICOM denied conducting any recent airstrikes in Somalia, a VOA journalist reported - following recent claims of US activities in the Lower Juba region. According to SomNews, US forces had conducted a helicopter assault on the village of Welmarow on the evening of June 3rd: "Helicopters thought to be from United States military have launched …

Summary

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

درنة‎, Derna, Darnah, Libya

According to local sources and the Egyptian government, Cairo carried out four ‘retaliatory’ air raids in Derna. Babak Taghvaee reported the Egyptian Air Force had targeted the “al Qaeda affiliated Shura Council” in Derna. The Egyptian Foreign Minister confirmed strikes, reporting it had targeted “terrorist organizations in Derna” – in response to the killing of…

Summary

LNA/UAE Military/Egyptian Military

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