Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LC422

Incident date

October 19, 2020

Location

الجغبوب, Al Jaghboub, Butnan, Libya

Geolocation

29.742500, 24.516944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two fishermen were reported killed in alleged Egyptian airstrikes on Al Jaghboub near the Libyan-Egyptian border on October 19th, 2020, according to local sources.

Libya Al Ahrar wrote that “a security source confirmed that two Libyan fishermen were killed between the Libyan-Egyptian borders as a result of their targeting by the Egyptian warplanes”, identifying the victims as Abdullah Al Ashaibi and Razzaq Al Qatani. The source stated he lost contact with the men before finding their bodies in the Jaghboub desert.

According to the source, “the fishermen had approached the Egyptian border by mistake, even though they had set up their tent inside the Libyan borders”. Libya Al Ahrar posted a short video clip of the reported strike.

The Libyan Observer only reported one death, writing that the strike killed Al Ashaibi when it hit his car. All sources pointed to the Egyptian air force as the responsible belligerent.

According to Libya Observer, a similar incident occurred four years ago: “About four years ago three falconers from the city of Al-Bayda were also targeted by an Egyptian military aircraft in the same area, while the fourth falconer was lucky enough to escape the attack and survived to tell the story.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
    Egyptian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Jaghboub (الجغبوب), for which the generic coordinates are: 29.7425, 24.516944. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Egyptian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
    Egyptian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-141

Incident date

August 20, 2020

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Five or more civilians were allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Sirte.

Sirte martyrs posted the victims’ names and said: “These heroes were martyred by the NATO bombing in Sirte on 20 Ramadan of the Nakba year corresponding to 08-20-2011.”

Al Gharib Al Ajli wrote: “Meanwhile, 5 NATO missiles collapsed on our house, 5 terrible fire blocks on a house in a residential neighborhood, the house was destroyed and its columns fell and 5 martyrs fell among the best of the young, one of them was the son of my sister, the martyr Badr al-Naji Khalaf Allah.”

The source added: “They are young civilians, among the best young men in the city of Sirte, they were not on the back of a tank, or they were barricading machine guns.”

Surt Son posted a video of the bodies on Youtube titled: “Massacre led to the deaths of dozens of Libyans as a result of aggression of NATO.”

Various condolence pages commemorated the loss of family members in the incident over the years.

NATO reported striking one command and control node in Sirte on that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Family members (2)

Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 24
  • (5 men)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Omar Mukhtar Belkacem Al-Mashay, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Ahmad Mohammed)
  • Nuri Ghaith Sharr Al-Tariq Al-Werfalli, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Sirte martyrs)
  • Victims allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Sirte martyrs)
  • Omar Mukhtar Belkacem Al-Mashay, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Harkan Arp 77)
  • Omar Mukhtar Belkacem Al-Mashay, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Harkan Arp 77)
  • Abu Bakr Ghaith Hussein al-Gaddafi, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Al Qadaouira martyrs)
  • Nuri Ghaith Sharr Al-Tariq Al-Werfalli, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Warfila Bin Ghazi)
  • Badr Al-Naj Dalhoum Gaddafi, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Al Mou’tasem Billah Alaq)
  • Alleged victim of NATO airstrike on Sirte on August 20th, 2011 (via Sirte martyrs)

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 Command and Control Node

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 24
  • (5 men)
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC421

Incident date

June 29, 2020

Location

وادي أزكير, Wadi Azkir, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.131944, 16.271944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian was reportedly killed and another man was injured as the result of alleged LNA air or artillery strikes on Wadi Azkir, west of Sirte, on June 29th, 2020, according to local sources.

Burkan Al Ghadab Operation reported that civilian Abdel Nabi Milad Ashtaiwi Al Sabi’i was killed alongside some of his camels in bombings by LNA forces on Wadi Azkir. His cousin Omar Ammar Ashtaiwi Al Sabi’i was injured.

Mansour Azker, a relative of the killed victim, reported that his cousin died when civilians were bombed in Azkir area.

Wadi Jaref reported the valley was targeted with airstrikes. Other sourced did not specify whether the attacks were air or artillery strikes. Bani Walid wrote on Facebook that Al Sabi’i died in a missile attack on the valley and that some houses in the area had been damaged.

Only Burkan Al Ghadab blamed the LNA for the strikes, other sources did not mention the belligerent.

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Abdel Nabi Milad Ashtaiwi Al Sabi’i, here posing with a weapon, was killed in alleged LNA strikes on Wadi Azkir on June 29th, 2020 (via Mansour Azker).
  • Abdel Nabi Milad Ashtaiwi Al Sabi’i, here pictured with a camel, was killed in alleged LNA strikes on Wadi Azkir on June 29th, 2020 (via Wadi Jaref).
  • Abdel Nabi Milad Ashtaiwi Al Sabi’i, here posing on a vehicle, was killed in alleged LNA strikes on Wadi Azkir on June 29th, 2020 (via Mansour Azker).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the agricultural area of Wadi Azkir (وادي أزكير), allegedly west of Sirte (سرت) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Wadi Azkir are: 31.131944, 16.271944.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC419

Incident date

June 10, 2020

Location

الساعدية, Al Sa'adeh, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.889481, 13.180569 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Libya Al Ahrar reported that “the remains of a citizen were found in a civilian car, likely hit by a missile attack in the Al Sa’adeh area by the Haftar militia at the beginning of its aggression on the capital.”

Also Burkan Al Ghadab Operation page posted the news saying that “Al-Jafara Security Directorate members find the remains of a civilian in a civilian car that has traces of missile shelling in Al Sa’adeh area, according to eyewitness accounts from the people of the region that the car was bombed by Haftar’s aircraft at the beginning of its militia’s aggression on the capital Tripoli.”

The date of the incident and other details are not available at the moment.

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
    1
  • 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
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • The vehicle were human remains of a civilian were found in Al Sa’idiya in Tripoli on June 10th, 2020 (via Libya Al Ahrar).
  • The vehicle were human remains of a civilian were found in Al Sa’idiya in Tripoli on June 10th, 2020 (via Libya Al Ahrar).
  • The vehicle were human remains of a civilian were found in Al Sa’idiya in Tripoli on June 10th, 2020 (via Libya Al Ahrar).
  • The vehicle were human remains of a civilian were found in Al Sa’idiya in Tripoli on June 10th, 2020 (via Libya Al Ahrar).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Sa’adeh (الساعدية), possibly in vicinity of the Al Sa’adeh Mosque (مسجد الساعدية). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the mosque are: 32.889481, 13.180569.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC420

Incident date

June 10, 2020

Location

وادي جارف, Wadi Jarif, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.131944, 16.271944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was killed after a mortar fell on her house in Jarif in Sirte on June 10th, 2020. She was identified by local sources as Dr. Malak Saleh Al Wafi.

“Dr. Malak Saleh Al-Wafi dies after a shell landed in their house in Jarif,” said Libyan woman doctors.

No further information is currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area of the Wadi Jarif (وادي جارف), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.131944, 16.271944. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC418

Incident date

June 9, 2020

Location

وادي جارف, Wadi Jarif, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.131944, 16.271944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Renewed shelling on Wadi Jarif west of Sirte on June 9th, 2020 led to deaths, injuries and displacement among civilians.

Tk Yahrouq Kl shy posted “Intensive and random shelling on Wadi Jarif in Serte amid reports of deaths, injuries, destruction, and mass displacement of families.”

Another post encouraged people to head to Ibn Sina hospital to donate blood to civilians wounded in the attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area of the Wadi Jarif (وادي جارف), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.131944, 16.271944. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC415

Incident date

June 8, 2020

Location

جارف: قرارة القزاح, Jarif: Qarara Al Qazzah, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.131944, 16.271944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians of the same family, including three children and two women, were killed in alleged LNA airstrikes on their home in Qarara Al Qazah in Al Thalatheen/Jarif area in Jarif on June 8th, 2020, according to local sources.

@LibyaCW reported that “the organisation recorded the fall of shells on three houses in Al Thalateen area west of Sirte today, Monday, June 8, killing seven (7) civilians and wounding ten (10) others.”

Libya Observer reported that, according to a GNA source, the family’s house was targeted by a MiG 29 warplane, which Russia provided recently to Haftar militias. The source reported that a day earlier, on Sunday, June 7th 2020, GNA forces had entered the town.

Libya Al Ahrar reported that the Chamber of Insurance and Protection Operations of Sirte and Al Jafra condemned “the terrorist act carried out by the Haftar militia after bombing civilian homes in the Jarif area, by means of a MiG-29 warplane, which killed 7 civilians.” The source reported the names of the seven victims, among which the children Ahmed Salim Al Nabsha Al FerjaniSaleh Salem Al Nabsha Al Ferjani and Salsabil Salem Al Nabsha Al Ferjani, who died alongside their mother.

Libyaakhbar said that The Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid condolences to Salim Al Ferjani, an employee at the Foreign Office in Sirte, after the death of his wife, his three children, and his brother as a result of the brutal bombing of his house in Sirte.

Al Marsad News blamed Turkey for this incident saying “Turkey’s Third Massacre of Civilians in Less than a Week. Eyewitnesses in Sirte confirmed the death of Salih, Ahmed, and Salsabeel Salem Al-Fitouri, all children, and their mother Najat Saleh, and father, Saleh Al-Fitouri. The Turkish intense bombing also claimed the lives of Ali Faraj Ashtaiwi and Ali Faraj Ashtaiwi.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Adult female mother of the three killed children killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (3 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • 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
    Libyan National Army, Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    GNA

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "The organization recorded the fall of shells on three houses in Al Thalateen area west of Sirte today, Monday, June 8, killing seven (7) civilians and wounding ten (10) others. Both parties to the armed conflict should spare civilians military operations and immediately stop targeting residential neighborhoods" (via @LibyanCW).
  • Damage after alleged LNA airstrikes on Al Thalateen area on June 8th, 2020 (via @LibyaCW).
  • The names of the victims in a statement by the Chamber of Insurance and Protection Operations of Sirte and Al Jafra (via Libya Al Ahrar).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area of Qarara Al Qazzah (قرارة القزاح), allegedly in the vicinity of Jarif (جارف) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Wadi Azkir are: 31.131944, 16.271944.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (3 children2 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • 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
    Libyan National Army, Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    GNA

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC416

Incident date

June 8, 2020

Location

مسجد وادي جارف , Jarif Valley Mosque, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.081103, 16.308853 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian was killed and two other civilians were wounded in airstrikes on a mosque in the Jarif area on June 8th, 2020, according to Libyan Crimes Watch.

Libyan Crimes Watch wrote that “a civilian was killed and two others were wounded as a result of a bombing by the air that we could not locate. The mosque of the Jarif area, southwest of Sirte, was targeted on Monday, June 8”, adding that “the organisation condemns the continued targeting of civilians in Sirte and calls on the United Nations Mission to open an investigation into crimes against the population.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A mosque in the Al Jarif area after being targeted by airstrikes on June 8th, 2020 (via @LibyanCW).

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a mosque being struck in the Wadi Jarif (وادي جارف) area, for which the exact coordinates are: 31.081103, 16.308853.

  • Reports of the incident mention a mosque being struck in the Wadi Jarif (وادي جارف) area.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]