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

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Incident Code

LC168

Incident date

July 19, 2019

Location

الاصابعة, Asabi'ah, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians were reportedly killed in a GNA airstrike on Asabi’ah.

Al Mashhad said that the bombing left civilian casualties and that according to their source three people were killed.

218TV reported: “The media center of the LNA Operations Room confirmed that the rockets launched by terrorist groups on a residential neighborhood in Asabi’ah led to the death of four people and the wounding of others.”

The Libya Observer, however, contested the claim and said that “four militants loyal to warlord Haftar were killed and eight others wounded in an airstrike by the Libyan Air Force on a military location in Asabi’ah town in the Nafusa Mountains last night.”

Tarhuna 24 published a similar report: “The city was hit by an airstrike at 12:55 pm targeting a concentration of armed forces resulting in the martyrdom of four soldiers.”

Hona Sog Al-Khmies listed seven dead soldiers, allegedly from the LNA battalion 152 and eight more injured fighters.

Burkanly said that GNA Colonel Mohammad Qannouno had confirmed airstrikes on Asabi’ah but did not mention civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–7
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8

Sources (7) [ 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.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–7
  • Belligerents reported injured
    8

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC169

Incident date

July 22, 2019

Location

مدرسة المرازيق, Outside of Al Marazeeq school, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.617245, 13.216547 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were reportedly killed in Qasr Bin Gashir when a GNA airstrike hit their car.

Address Libya wrote: “A military plane belonging to the Misurata Air Force College on Monday bombed a civilian car in Al Marazeeq area south of Qasr Ben Gashir, killing one of them.

According to eyewitnesses, the car was carrying a family, where a tape showed the entire vehicle was burned.”

ObservatoryLY said: “Misurata Air Force bombard a citizen’s car and his family in Al Marazeeq area south of Qasr bin Gashir.”

Other sources published similar accounts of the incident and posted pictures and videos.

Hona Soq Al-Khmies Emsihel said the incident took place near Al Marazeeq high school.

An Amnesty International on-the-groudn investigation later said: “On the morning of 22 July 2019, four GNA air strikes, on the outskirts of Qasr Bin Ghashir and more than five kilometres from the front lines, completely destroyed one house and damaged another one nearby which belonged to the members of the same family, without causing any casualties among the members of the family, but reportedly killing four civilians in a passing car. However, analysis of satellite imagery shows military vehicles near the civilian homes, and three LNA artillery cannons 100 metres to the south, across the road and behind a school. Combatants should not place legitimate military targets in populated residential areas as these endanger civilians. Fragments recovered at the scene by Amnesty International investigators confirm that at least two of the weapons were unguided FAB-style 250kg bombs. One of the craters was significantly larger than the others, ten meters across and more than three meters deep, which may indicate one weapon was much heavier. However, the FAB-250 itself is also a large explosive weapon, with a blast radius of over 600m, and therefore should not be used in populated urban areas.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Video showing the alleged aftermath of the strike
  • Picture of the car allegedly hit in the incident
  • More pictures from the alleged site of the incident

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck outside of the Al Marazeeq School (مدرسة المرازيق). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to these exact coordinates: 32.617245, 13.216547.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC165

Incident date

July 16, 2019

Location

السواني, Al-Swani, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.712224, 13.07224 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three medics were reportedly killed in an LNA airstrike on a field hospital in Al-Swani.

Burkanly only said the hospital had been targeted without mentioning civilian harm.

OCHA Libya said three medical staff had been injured and equipment damaged.

Hona Sog Al-Khmies Emsihel reported that three combatants had been killed while several doctors and nurses were injured. The Libya Observer published a similar account.

According to the Libya Herald, “the Health Ministry claimed the Swani hospital was hit by an air strike which injured three ambulance drivers and a paramedic, and caused destruction to the hospital and its medical supplies and equipment.”

The Turkish state news outlet Anadolu Agency wrote: “Three medics were killed on Tuesday in an airstrike carried out by Eastern Libyan forces led by military commander Khalifa Haftar, according to forces aligned with the Tripoli-based government.”

The Libya Observer said that three government fighter were killed and ten others wounded including three medics.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    GNA
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the alleged aftermath (via Burkanly)
  • Another picture of the aftermath (via Libyan Express)
  • More pictures from the incident

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the incident took place in Al-Swani (السواني), for which the generic coordinates are 32.712224 13.07224. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    GNA
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC156

Incident date

June 26, 2019

Location

وادي الربيع, Wadi al Rabie, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.709600, 13.382378 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were allegedly killed by indiscriminate shelling on the Wadi al Rabie neighbourhood of Tajoura.

LCNA reported: “A random shell landed Tuesday night on the house of Mohammed Salim al-Mazouji in the Wadi Al Rabie area, killing two of his sons, in addition to his granddaughter while they were inside the house.”

Other sources published similar reports.

Local reports of fighting point at the GNA or the LNA as perpetrators of the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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, Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Wadi Al Rabie (الطويشة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.709600, 13.382378. 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 Wadi Al Rabie (الطويشة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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, Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC147

Incident date

May 29, 2019

Location

غريان, Gheryan, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

32.169687, 13.019377 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reportedly killed in Gheryan by a GNA airstrike, according to a single source.

Al Ain News tweeted: “The Libyan Army: Civilian casualties in the bombing of the militias of Misurata on Gharyan and Harouna.”

Other sources only reported GNA airstrikes but no civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Gheryan (غريان), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.169687, 13.019377. 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC138

Incident date

May 12, 2019

Location

ناصر, Naser, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.432880, 12.657010 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were allegedly killed in an airstrike on Naser. Different sources accused the LNA, UAE or Egypt.

Ibrahim Kasuda said: “The UAE assault plane targets a citizen’s car in the village of Naser in the south of Zawiya, killing all in the car and the supporters of Haftar describe it as an ammunition truck.”

Mona Al-Hur accused the UAE and Egypt of conducting the strike, also saying everyone in the car was killed without giving a number of casualties.

Asstor wrote: “An airstrike carried out by Haftar aircraft targeting small civilian vehicles claiming to carry weapons and ammunition in the area south of the city of Zawiya, killing three people and wounding two which are in serious condition.”

Anis Abdalgawad and Son of Libya Sartawi said the car was in fact an ammunition truck. Tak.yuharq.kl.shy added that one of the victims was Abdulmajid Bin Koura, supposedly an arms dealer with a criminal record.

Libyan citizen later said on Twitter that Ahmad Aldabbashi, an alleged human trafficker and oil smuggler, was killed in the strike as well.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdulmajid Bin Koura
Adult male killed
Ahmad Aldabbashi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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, Unknown, Egyptian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the aftermath
  • Pictures of Abdulmajid Bin Koura, supposedly killed in the event
  • Video of the alleged aftermath
  • Picture of Ahmad Aldabbashi

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Naser (ناصر), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.43288, 12.65701. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Egyptian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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, Unknown, Egyptian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC128

Incident date

April 27, 2019

Location

الطويشة, Altwaisha, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.639449, 13.111109 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and three civilians were reported killed by a GNA airstrike on Qasr Bin Gashir.

Mahmoud Al-Dakhli wrote: “The last victim of the indiscriminate shelling is the house of my mother Shaaban Gmeid al-Jalidy, which resulted in the death of the child Rabia Muftah Shaaban Gmeid al-Jalidy and her sister, Janan, and the rest of the family with minor injuries, including the adults.”

Tripoli Operations Room said that “preliminary statistics refer to the ‘killing of 3 children’ and ‘many wounded’.”

Tripoli Alaan only said that the house of Shaaban Gmeid al-Jalidy was hit but did not mention civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Rabia Muftah Shaaban Gmeid al-Jalidy
Child female Sister of Janan Muftah Shaaban Gmeid al-Jalidy killed
Janan Muftah Shaaban Gmeid al-Jalidy
Child female Sister of Rabia Muftah Shaaban Gmeid al-Jalidy injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the aftermath and on of the victims

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Altwaisha (الطويشة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.639449, 13.111109. 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 Altwaisha (الطويشة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC170

Incident date

July 22, 2019

Location

سوق الجمعة , Souq Al Jumaa, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.881854, 13.256303 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three children were allegedly killed because of indiscriminate shelling on the Souq Al Jumaa neighbourhood of Tripoli.

The Libya Observer initially reported no civilian harm: “At least three mortar shells landed on civilian houses near the international airport of Tripoli, without reports of human casualties so far.”

Hona Souq Al-Khmies Emsihel said three children from the Dahim family had been “severely injured” because of the shelling.

Tk Yahrouq kl shy2 wrote that three children were killed in the Souq Al Jumaa area.

Due to local reports of fighting the shelling could have been conducted by either GNA or LNA.

An Amnesty International investigation later found: “Five children were injured on 22 July 2019, when two rockets landed near where they were playing, along the outer wall of the Dahim family home, south of Mitiga airport. The uncle of three of the children told Amnesty International:

‘Ramadhan, who is two, was injured in the face and hands, his sister Asil, who is 12, sustained internal injuries in the lungs and kidneys and a piece of shrapnel was lodged by the spinal cord; a very dangerous injury. And Rinad, who is 4, was injured in the head. Also two children from two neighbouring families were injured, Hedeya, and Minna, both 12 years old. It was about 8.30 pm and the children were playing by the wall. First one shell landed on the outer side of the wall and the children moved and then another shell landed exactly where the children had been playing only a few minutes before. If they had not moved, they would had been killed.’

Fragments recovered at the scene by Amnesty International investigators confirm that the weapon was a large rocket, most likely a 122mm 9M22U ‘Grad’ rocket.”

The incident occured at 20:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ramadhan
2 years old male injured
Asil
12 years old female injured
Rinad
4 years old male injured

Family members (2)

Hedeya
12 years old female injured
Minna
12 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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, Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • More pictures of the aftermath

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Souq Al Jumaa (سوق الجمعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.881854, 13.256303. 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 Souq Al Jumaa (سوق الجمعة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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, Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]