Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

Lib2011-118

Incident date

June 24, 2011

Location

الدافنية, Al Dafiniya, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

32.390033, 14.7988488 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Rocket fire allegedly launched by Gaddafi’s forces struck the Al Dafiniya area and killed between one and four people and injured between nine and ten.

A Facebook post from News sarkhat Libya alleges that those killed and injured were rebels while a tweet from @shababalnhda alleges that they were civilians.

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
    0 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–10

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Dafiniyah (الدفنية), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.390033, 14.7988488. 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 Dafiniyah (الدفنية).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    0 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–10

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-099

Incident date

May 28, 2011

Location

بني وليد, Bani Walid, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

31.75805, 13.983513 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 28th, 2011, a demonstrated near the market in Bani Walid lead to the death of 13 civilians, who were shot by Gaddafi aligned forces.

A UN report from 2011 reported the casualty, stating “Together with 12 other young men, an injured man sought refuge in a room on the second floor of a nearby commercial building. Qadhafi forces, reportedly from the Al Fateh Brigade, stormed the building. One of the demonstrators told the Commission that his brother was amongst those who sought refuge in the building.  He spoke to his brother by phone, trying to reassure him. While he was speaking to his brother, the phone went dead. The interviewee was informed later that all the men in the room had been shot dead. One of the soldiers of the Al-Fateh Brigade, [003], was later arrested by the thuwar. While he was in custody, the witness had the opportunity to question him. The soldier said that he had been ordered to reassure the men in the room that they would be safe. The soldier also said that the young men had a number of rifles with them but they had no ammunition. The men had then been shot..”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    13

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town Bani Walid (بني وليد), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.75805, 13.983513. 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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    13

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-003

Incident date

February 15, 2011

Location

شارع العروبة, Al Orouba Street, Bayda, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Seven civilian were allegedly killed and one more injured by Gaddafi forces during protests in Al Bayda.

Al Jazera said: “The number of martyrs in Al-Bayda, east of Benghazi, increased to 7, and the security forces injured a 13-year-old child in the leg with rubber bullets.”

Amnesty International wrote: “In al-Bayda, a protester and a bystander were killed on 16 February, a day prior to the planned “Day of Rage”, during a demonstration against the arrest of activists (see Chapter 1). The protester was Sa’ad Hamed Salah al-Yamani, a 20-year-old student. His father told Amnesty International: ‘He asked for me for permission to go to the peaceful demonstration. He went out at about 6.30pm and at about 7.45pm his best friend got a call to go to the hospital and when he went there he found Sa’ad dead.’ Sa’ad’s friend Hazem Ahmed Mohammed al-Faidi, who was with Sa’ad when he was killed and who was himself shot, told Amnesty International: ‘We went for a peaceful demonstration. We walked past the Commercial Bank, where the security forces threw tear gas, and went on to the ISA building to call for the release of the people arrested the previous day. We were outside the main door, at the back of ‘Uruba Street, by the market. They shot in the air from the guard room on the ground floor and then shot live bullets. I was shot in the right flank and in the right arm. Sa’ad was standing two or three metres from me and was shot immediately after me; he was shot in the face and collapsed. He died immediately.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Khanfar
22 years old male killed
Sa'ed Hamad Al Yamani
20 years old male killed
Anis Mistatari
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Khaled Khanfar and Sa'ed Hamad Al Yamani, allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces in Benghazi on February 15h, 2011 (via Walled Bin Amir)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Ouruba or Al Abraq street (شارع العروبة) in the city of  Al Bayda (البيضاء), 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.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Al Ouruba or Al Abraq street (شارع العروبة) in the city of  Al Bayda (البيضاء).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    7
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-174

Incident date

September 22, 2011

Location

الحي رقم 2, Neighbourhood No. 2, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.208213, 16.566095 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two women were allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on neigbourhood No 2 of Sirte.

TV Arrai posted a video on Youtube where a nurse says that two women were killed in the attack.

NATO on that day reported striking one “Ammunition Storage and Military Barracks Facility” near Sirte.

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
  • (2 women)
  • 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
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood No. 2 (الحي رقم 2) of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.208213, 16.566095. 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 No. 2 (الحي رقم 2) of Sirte (سرت‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Command and Controle Node, 5 Surface to Air Missile Systems.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 women)
  • 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
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-029

Incident date

March 5, 2011

Location

الزاوية, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

On March the 5th 2011, Gaddafi forces launched an air and naval bombardment on the city of Zawiya, resulting in the death and the injury of civilians. The rebels fought back and killed some Gaddafi soldiers and also African mercenaries.

According to Sayed Tawfik, Facebook post, said that “there was an air and sea bombardment in Libya on civilian targets in the city of Zawia and eyewitnesses from the field confirmed the destruction of tanks and that mercenaries soldiers were killed on this incident.”

@alalikhalid reported that “thirty people were killed, most of them civilians, in the fight in the Libyan city of Zawiya.”

According to Aljazeera, “a spokesman for the rebels in the city of Zawiya said that the Gaddafi Brigades launched a new attack and cordoned off the city from all sides, cut off phone calls, and violently bombed it from land and air for the second day in a row.

Journalist Ali Al-Mazdawi told Al-Jazeera that the outcome of the battles in Al-Zawiyah was 16 martyrs and 30 wounded.

CMS Aawsat reported that in the city of Zawya, “witnesses said the sound of artillery shelling and military helicopters shook the city, in an attempt by the forces of Gaddafi led by his son Khamis to control the city. The sources said all services were cut off from the city, the most important of which are medical services, water, electricity and telephones. The indiscriminate bombing left dozens of dead and wounded, causing unprecedented damage to the city’s history. The sources said leaders of the rebels «February 17» that there are bodies in the streets can not be reached, and that there are dozens of wounded who are killed by the forces of Gaddafi.”

Many buildings were set on fire in several buildings, including government buildings and a mosque. According to an eyewitness as a doctor at the medical centre “The Qaddafi forces attacked the medical centre, seized ambulances and killed three wounded people in the operating room.”

It was also added in CMS Aawsat that “the rebels killed about 37 Gaddafi soldiers, 13 African mercenaries.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 30
  • (3 undetermined)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Causes of injury / death
    Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival, 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    50

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Zawiya (الزاوية‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.759709, 12.732495. 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, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 30
  • (3 undetermined)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Causes of injury / death
    Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival, 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    50

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-134

Incident date

July 31, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misrata, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

On July 31st, 2011, seven missiles were fired on Misurata, leading to the death of 3 men and wounding four others. Two brothers, Abdul Salam Abdul Latif and Youssef Abdul Latif were killed in the strikes, and their cousin Muhammad Abdul Latif died of injuries after. Four others were reported injured as a result of the strikes. It was unclear the combatant status of any of the wounded or dead.

LoverMisurata posted on Facebook “7 missiles fell on the city of Misurata, which led to the death of 2 of the Abdul Latif family, as well as wounding 5 residents of the city and losses in property.” They later described one fo the wounded, Muhammad Abdul Latif, as deceased due to injuries.

No additional information was provided on wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Muhammad Abdul Latif
Age unknown male Cousin of Youssef and Abdul Salam
Abdul Salam Abdul Latif
Age unknown male Brother of Youssef
Youssef Abdul Latif
male Brother of Abdul Salam

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ 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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ 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:

Roqaya Fawzi Mabrouk
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]