Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

Lib2011-075

Incident date

April 23, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Gaddafi forces bombing of Misurata allegedly killed 40 civilians and injured many more, according to a major news channel.

Al Jazeera reported at the time: “40 people were killed and dozens of others wounded in a bombing carried out by the Gaddafi Brigades on Saturday on the city of Misurata”

There is currently no additional known public information regarding this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–36
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (1) [ 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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    40
  • Civilians reported injured
    24–36
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-196

Incident date

October 3, 2011

Location

قصر أبو هادي, Qasr Abu Hadi, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.059497, 16.658901 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Qasr Abu Hadi.

Three different pages listing victim of the NATO intervention named Muhammad Khaled Al-Sayyid Al-Qahsi Al-Gaddafi as killed on October 3rd. A comment on the Al Gaddadifa page said he was “killed in front of his family’s eyes on 3/10/2011 at 3 o’clock because of NATO bombing and they weren’t able to bury him till 6 o’clock next day.”

NATO on that day reported no strikes around Sirte.

The incident occured at approximately 3:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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
    NATO forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qasr Abu Hadi (قصر أبو هادي),  for which the generic coordinates are: 31.059497, 16.658901. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (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
    NATO forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-096

Incident date

May 16, 2011

Location

باب العزيزية, Bab Al Azizia, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.871451, 13.172594 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 16th, 2011, NATO forced bombed Tripoli, including a hotel near the Bab al-Azizyah neighbourhood. Multiple sources reported the airstrikes, although it was unclear if there were civilian casualties.

Al Jazeera for example noted: “On Monday evening, NATO forces bombed civilian and military targets in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and the nearby Qasr Bin Ghashir region, according to Libyan state television, while the rebels announced that they were planning to head towards the west of the country. Libyan State TV quoted a military source with news of the bombing, and saying that the strikes caused ‘material and human damage.'”

Abo Mohammad posted: “The Libyan regime TV reported that the city of Tripoli and the Qasr bin Ghashir area were bombed this evening, and reports from Al-Manara reported that three powerful explosions shook Bab Al-Aziziyah.”

NATO reported airstrikes “in Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Node, 1 Military Training Facility. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Surface-To-Air Fire Control Radar, 2 Land Based Air Surveillance Radars”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Bab Al Azizia (باب العزيزية),  for which the generic coordinates are: 32.871451, 13.172594. 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 Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Node, 1 Military Training Facility. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1
Surface-To-Air Fire Control Radar, 2 Land Based Air Surveillance Radars

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-139

Incident date

August 11, 2011

Location

تاورغاء‎, Tawergha, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

32.053695, 15.048778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 24 and 74 civilians, including at least 2 women, in Tawergha were killed by shelling and rockets launched allegedly by the rebels and/or NATO as they advanced into the town after taking control of Misurata. Civilian homes were struck by shells and were killed and injured, eventually resulting in a massive exodus of the population. The shelling took place from August 10-12, 2011.

Mukhtar.altawaragi posted on Facebook that as many as 74 people were killed during the shelling and named Salah Ahmed Gaddafi, Muhammad Al-Hamali Musa, and Abdul Salam Saleh Laban as being killed.

Khal.eltawrghi posted a list of 24 names, including Abdullah Al-Zaidi, Abdulmutallab, Ameryhel Salem, Abdel Halim Suleiman, Muftah Qurallah, Ahmed Mustafa Gaddafi, Colonel Gomaa Mabrouk, Kamal Al-Hamali, Muammar Al-Toumi, Khaled Qurifa and his mother, the old woman Saliba, Saleh Al Shakshak and his family, Haji Ahmed Al Shakshak and his family, the Joubran family, Musa Al-Ajili, Sheikh Mabrouk Elyan, Ahmed Alyan, Alyan Milad, Mahmoud Sweilam, Ashour Salem, the teacher Juma Salihin, Ibn Thabet, the old man Awad and Muftah Harib.

Some homes were completely destroyed from the shelling, especially in the Al-Kosha neighborhood.

A Facebook post by Sabha 17th Feb identified Professor Saleh al-Shakshak and his family, including Abd al-Rahman al-Shakshak, as being killed by the bombing in Tawergha, which is composed of 7-8 people. Tawergha Local Council reported that one of the sons of Saleh al-Shakshak survived the attack.

A Facebook post by Tawrgha and 17th feb revolution identified the Gibran family as being killed inside of their house.

Jumaa Salihin Ali, a teacher, was identified by Why Taghoura as being killed in Tawergha.

Mabrouk Elyan, who is the imam of a mosque in Tawergha, was identified by Tawragha martyrs as being killed.

A video was posted by THE.SON.OF.TAWARGAH showing Kamal Al-Hamali, who was allegedly killed.

Airwars later spoke to one of the relatives of the victims: “‘130 men from Tawergha are missing ever since, and no one knows anything about them. They were taken by the rebels. My brother is one of them,’ Gabriel Farag, who also had to flee Tawergha, told Airwars. ‘These 130 men were arrested just for the mere fact that they are from Tawergha.'”

The incident occured at 11:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Family members (1)

killed

Family members (1)

Family members (1)

Family members (1)

The victims were named as:

Adult male a teacher in education killed
Adult male imam of a mosque in Tawergha killed
Adult male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown killed
Age unknown male carried his handicapped mother on his shoulders and ran with her killed
Atiqa Hadiri
Age unknown female at Gate 14, who was taken by zeal and fever, carried a Kalashnikov assault rifle defending Tawergha and was martyred killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 74
  • (2 women1 man2–74 undetermined)
  • 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 targets
    Libyan rebel forces, NATO forces

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Jumaa Salihin Ali ... a teacher in education, the date of martyrdom 13/8/2011 in Tawergha
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdel Halim Suleiman Abu Sadeegh ... was killed while entering Tawergha
  • Mabrouk Elyan, who is the imam of a mosque in Tawergha, was killed.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sheikh Mabrouk Elyan, who was killed in Tawergha
  • son of the late Salih al-Shakshak that survived the attack on Tawergha on August 11, 2011
  • Images of TAWARGAH on August 11, 2011
  • Images of TAWARGAH on August 11, 2011

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tawergha (تاورغاء‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.053695, 15.048778. 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 type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    24 – 74
  • (2 women1 man2–74 undetermined)
  • 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 targets
    Libyan rebel forces, NATO forces

Incident Code

Lib2011-005

Incident date

February 17, 2011

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

On February 17th, multiple sources reported at least 13 and as many as 20 civilian fatalities and up to 200 more injured by Gaddafi security forces in Benghazi, who were said to have fired live rounds on Gamal Abdel Nasser Street.

Al Jazeera reports “there were reports of six deaths in the Benghazi confrontations, where supporters of the Libyan regime in civilian clothes (thugs) fired live bullets at the demonstrators on Jamal Abdel Nasser Street as well as on Amr bin Al-Aas Street in the city center.”

A Facebook post from Ehab Al Shibani later named the 13 dead.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
18 years old male killed
20 years old male killed
13 years old male killed
26 years old male killed
24 years old male killed
18 years old male killed
19 years old male killed
29 years old male killed
36 years old male killed
27 years old male killed
19 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–200
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Images of all the victims, taken from https://www.facebook.com/groups/149258408469329/permalink/405694566159044/
  • Salah El-Din Al-Jahawi, taken from https://www.facebook.com/groups/166805546685121/permalink/474239765941696/
  • Images of all the victims, taken from https://www.facebook.com/145805892249838/photos/a.145806865583074/147381082092319/

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Benghazi (بنغازي‎), 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.  

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–200
  • 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 (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-146

Incident date

August 22, 2011

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.886602, 13.190912 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and 16 people, including three belligerents, were killed on Abu Salim Highway in Tripoli by Gaddafi snipers on August 22, 2011.

A young man from the Abu Salim area told Libyans that 30 Gaddafi supporters were stationed on the bridge and another group were stationed under the bridge off the highway and they were shooting random cars passing by, especially those with the independence flag.

A video posted by Ahmadov2010 on YouTube shows the bodies of at least four men killed and a video by Son of Abo Salim showed the body of another man killed.

The names of the civilians killed:

Ahmed Ali Aoun

Muhammad Mustafa Al-Ashtar

Muhammad Saad, Muhammad Mushtafa’s cousin

Hazem Abd Al-Salam Al-Marimi

The incident occured at approximately 11:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 13
  • (4 men)
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Ali Aoun
  • Muhammad Saad
  • Tariq Ali Ashkandali .. .. Ibrahim Ali Ashkandali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Muhammad Saad

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 13
  • (4 men)
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC430

Incident date

July 22, 2022

Location

شارع المطبات طريق المشتل, Al Matabat street in Al Mashtal road, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.847656, 13.289481 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a young man, was killed and four to five other men were injured in shelling carried out by “presidential agencies” on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022.

According to @tkyroogklshytk, a shell fell on Al-Matabat Street behind the Qadour Clinic near a group of young men sitting on the street, injuring five of them, some of them seriously. Images posted by @tkyroogklshytk show damage to the road and buildings from the shells’ impacts.

24 Hours posted on Facebook that a young man was killed and four others were wounded by shelling from armed militias on a house on Al-Matabat Street. @L1JmG9xosh7fgo1 tweeted that in addition to the civilian killed, five other people were seriously injured.

A Facebook post by Al Marasad reported that young Ashour Al-Qanuni was killed and four of his neighbors’ sons (Ahmed, Al-Azhar, Asil, Haitham) were injured “after a shell fell on them while they were standing in the street in the Ain Zara area after they went out to perform Friday prayers”.

The majority of sources did not identify who was responsible for the shelling, while Al Marasad posted on Facebook that the “presidential agencies” carried out the shelling, indicating the Government of National Accord (GNA) was involved.

@taqarifatnews reported that the shelling caused a fire inside the wall of a house.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ahmed
male injured
Al-Azhar
male injured
Asil Al Shabah
male injured
Haitham
male injured

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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
    GNA/Turkish Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Damage caused by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Damage caused by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Blood from victims of shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Smoke caused by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Smoke caused by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Ashour Al-Qanuni, killed by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @L1JmG9xosh7fgo1)
  • Ashour Al-Qanuni, killed by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by Mohammed Al Shefer via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a strike in the vicinity of Al Mashtal Road (طريق المشتل) in the Ain Zara (عين زارة) neighbourhood of Tripoli (طرابلس). The generic coordinates for Al Mashtal Road are: 32.847656, 13.289481. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

GNA/Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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
    GNA/Turkish Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ066

Incident date

May 18, 2018

Location

درنة, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.75591, 22.637772 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various local sources reported joint airstrikes by the LNA and an unknown pro-LNA actor on Derna.

Alnabaa TV reported: “The correspondent added, Friday, that a random shell fell on the central district of the city, causing damage to buildings without causing civilian harm.”

Libya 24 TV reported that an ammunition store was destroyed in the strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]