Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

LC201

Incident date

September 19, 2019

Location

مرزق القلعة, Murzuq Castle, Murzuq, Libya

Geolocation

25.919023, 13.923895 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians were reportedly killed in an LNA or Emirati airstrike on Murzuq.

Ali642Souki said: “One of the drone’s missiles targeted one of the Tebu houses and hit a family consisting of a father and 2 of his children and his wife was visiting their neighbours and the father and his sons had died all together and here under the rubble of the house God and yes agent.”

Aldamoh_201112 tweeted: “4 civilians, including an elderly woman and 3 children, were martyred as a result of the UAE air raids on Al Qalaa residential neighbourhood.”

Libya Alhrar TV, however, said that a local official denied any civilian harm: “Municipal Council member Murzuq Muhammad Omar confirmed that Hifter has launched four airstrikes on the city’s Citadel (Al Qalaa) neighbourhood.

Omar explained to the free that the raids did not cause any casualties, pointing out that one of the strikes targeted an empty house of one of the displaced families from the neighbourhood, which displaced most of its residents after the escalation of clashes in the city.”

According to Al Motawaset, the LNA spokesperson Ahmed Al-Mesmari denied any LNA strikes on Murzuq on that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2–3 children0–1 women0–1 men)
  • 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, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Alleged aftermath of an airstrike on Murzuq on September 19th, 2019 (via Ali642Souki)
  • Alleged aftermath of an airstrike on Murzuq on September 19th, 2019 (via Ali642Souki)
  • Alleged aftermath of an airstrike on Murzuq on September 19th, 2019 (via Ali642Souki)
  • Alleged aftermath of an airstrike on Murzuq on September 19th, 2019 (via Ali642Souki)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Murzuq Castle (قلعة مرزق), for which the generic coordinates are: 25.919023, 13.923895. 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

United Arab Emirates Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United Arab Emirates Military
  • United Arab Emirates Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (2–3 children0–1 women0–1 men)
  • 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, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC200

Incident date

September 19, 2019

Location

بوهديمة, Bouhdima, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.076611, 20.118113 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly killed and twelve more injured by possible artillery shelling in Benghazi.

The Libya Observer reported: “One person was killed and at least 12 others, including women and children, were injured when indiscriminate rocket shells fell on a condolences tent in Bouhdima district of Benghazi.

Local sources said the shells were fired from Majouri district, in memory of one of the so-called Dignity Operation members, killed in the war on Tripoli.”

However, Libya Alahrar TV said the reason was gunfire: “A private source confirmed to the Free Libya Channel that one person was killed as a result of indiscriminate shooting at a mourning tent in Bouhdima area southeast of Benghazi.

The source added to the Free Libya channel that the incident resulted in the injury of a dozen other people were injured without giving the nature of their injuries.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, 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
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Alleged scene at the hospital after the incident (via Libya Observer)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Bouhdima (بوهديمة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.076611, 20.118113. 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 Bouhdima (بوهديمة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, 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
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC201a

Incident date

September 19, 2019

Location

مرزق, Murzuq, Libya

Geolocation

25.919023, 13.923895 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The US conducted a rare action against militant targets in Libya in September 2019, striking what it later said was “a terrorist facilitation and meeting location consisting of ISIS-Libya terrorist leadership and militants.”

In April 2020, US Africa Command reported that no civilians were harmed in this action near Murzuq on September 19th, 2019 – which appears to have been confused in some public reporting with a nearby problem LNA/ UAE strike on the same date (see LC201.).

A day after the original airstrike, AFRICOM had released a statement, asserting that “at this time, an airstrike that killed eight (8) terrorists is being assessed. At present, we estimate that no civilians were injured or injured as a result of this airstrike.” The statement also read that the strike was conducted in coordination with the internationally recognised Libyan Government of National Accord.

On April 28th 2020, in its first quarterly civilian casualty report, US Africa Command then reported that “AFRICOM received one allegation from an online media source claiming an unspecified number of civilians were killed as a result of a U.S. airstrike in the vicinity of Murzuq, Libya, on September 19, 2019.”

The report continued: “After review, the allegation was assessed to be unsubstantiated. On September 19, 2019 a kinetic strike was executed against a compound which U.S. intelligence confirmed was a terrorist facilitation and meeting location consisting of ISIS-Libya terrorist leadership and militants. Significant and multiple sources of intelligence was compiled to clearly identify the nature of the target. It is assessed that civilian casualties did not occur as a result of U.S. military action.”

At the time of the action, 218TV reported that 10 militants had been killed. According to Al Marsad, “a senior intelligence source told the Observatory, preferring to remain anonymous, that one of those killed was the terrorist Ali Al Tabawi”, also known as Abu Hamza Al Tabawi or Ali Al Dernawi. Le Revolution Tchadieen wrote on Facebook that militant Moussa Hajj Azrak also died in the airstrikes.

Airwars has not so far identified any public sources alleging civilian harm in this incident. The source AFRICOM may have confused the incident with alleged LNA/UAE airstrikes on Murzuq on that same day (LC201) in which, according to our records, up to four civilians were killed.

Murzuq News had reported that in total, four air raids were monitored on Murzuq on September 19th, 2019.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS - Libya
  • Belligerents reported killed
    8–10

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • AFRICOM statement on U.S. airstrikes near Murzuq on September 19th, 2019 (via Al Marsad).
  • Footage of confirmed U.S. airstrikes targeted ISIS militants near Murzuq on September 19th, 2019 (via @MMAlwrfly).
  • Translation of tweet: "One of the pages of a Chadian opposition mourns one of their leaders who died yesterday during an American raid on them in the city of Murzuq and he knows that the terrorist militia government the reconciliation government said about them that they are their forces south protection forces and they are originally mercenaries from Chad and terrorists from ISIS." (via @hmGZBUaOxvGAH4x ).
  • Militant Moussa Hajj Azrak was allegedly killed in U.S. airstrikes near Murzaq on September 19th, 2020 (via Le revolution tchadieen).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Murzuq (مرزق), for which the generic coordinates are: 25.919023, 13.923895. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    vicinity of Murzuq
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US Forces
  • Apr 27, 2020

  • September 23, 2019, AFRICOM received one allegation from an online media source claiming an unspecified number of civilians were killed as a result of a U.S. airstrike in the vicinity of Murzuq, Libya, on September 19, 201 After review, the allegation was assessed to be unsubstantiated. On September 19, 2019 a kinetic strike was executed against a compound which U.S. intelligence confirmed was a terrorist facilitation and meeting location consisting of ISIS-Libya terrorist leadership and militants. Significant and multiple sources of intelligence was compiled to clearly identify the nature of the target. It is assessed that civilian casualties did not occur as a result of U.S. military action.

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

"9. September 23, 2019, AFRICOM received one allegation from an online media source claiming an unspecified number of civilians were killed as a result of a U.S. airstrike in the vicinity of Murzuq, Libya, on September 19, 2019. After review, the allegation was assessed to be unsubstantiated. On September 19, 2019 a kinetic strike was executed against a compound which U.S. intelligence confirmed was a terrorist facilitation and meeting location consisting of ISIS-Libya terrorist leadership and militants. Significant and multiple sources of intelligence was compiled to clearly identify the nature of the target. It is assessed that civilian casualties did not occur as a result of U.S. military action."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS - Libya
  • Belligerents reported killed
    8–10

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC199

Incident date

September 17, 2019

Location

الكريمية, Al Keramia, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.771657, 13.08665 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family was reportedly injured in an LNA airstrike on Janzur.

The Libya Observer wrote: “Khalifa Haftar’s warplanes continue to strike residential areas in south and east Tripoli without targeting military locations as foreign drones backing up Haftar’s forces strike Mitiga Airport for the fourth day in a row.

Sources from Volcano of Rage Operation said Mig 21 for Haftar’s forces hit a storage for Jarma Company in Tajoura but caused only material damage, while another strike hit a residential area in Al-Karaymiya, injuring a family.

The Libya Observer has not verified any information about the number and type of casualties due to the airstrikes.”

There is currently no other information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Keramia (الكريمية), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.739927, 13.085403. 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 Al Keramia (الكريمية).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC198

Incident date

September 13, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎: خزانات النفط, Tripoli: Oil tanks, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.790556, 13.148889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was reportedly injured because of LNA shelling on Tripoli.

The GNA Burkan Al Ghadab operation claimed: “The child Osama Mohammed Hamza was injured by shrapnel in the neck as a result of the indiscriminate shelling of the militias of the war criminal Hafter behind oil tanks and was transferred to the field hospital for treatment.”

There is currently no additional information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Osama Mohammed Hamza
Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Child receeiving treatment after being injured in alleged LNA strike on Tripoli on September 13th, 2019 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention oil tanks (خزانات النفط) in Tripoli (طرابلس‎). The coordinates for the oil tanks are: 32.790556 13.148889. 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 status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC197

Incident date

September 13, 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

One civilian was reportedly killed by indiscrimintate shelling on Asabi’ah.

Tk yahrouq Kl shy said: “Drone shelling on the area of Asabi’ah near the Al Sila camp, which led to the death of citizen Abdel-Hakim Bnaser due to aerial bombing.”

There is currently no further information available.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdel-Hakim Bnaser
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ 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

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC196

Incident date

September 13, 2019

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly injured in an LNA airstrike south of Sirte.

Akhbar Libya 24 reported: “Photographer Walid Zarmouh of Misurata was injured while escorting an armed convoy belonging to Al-Wefaq government [GNA] forces, which was heading towards Al Jufra military base.

A source familiar with the fact that Zarmouh was injured said a pre-emptive air strike carried out by the Air Force of the General Command of the Libyan Armed Forces targeted the convoy south of the city of Sirte at dawn on Friday.”

There is currently no more information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Walid Zarmouh
Adult male Photojournalist injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the alleged victim (via Akhbar Libya 24)

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.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC195

Incident date

September 13, 2019

Location

مدرسة ابو عقدة, Abu Aqada School, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

32.048889, 13.281111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly killed in a GNA airstrike on Al Ja’afarah.

Tk Yahrouq Kl shy reported: “Warplane bombardment of Al Wefaq [GNA] on the Abu Aqada school, which led to the death of Salem Klish of the Jaafra tribe.”

Hona Souq Al-Khmies only reported GNA airstrikes but no civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salem Klish
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the alleged strike

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Abu Aqada School (مدرسة ابو عقدة) allegedly within Al Jafarah (الجعافرة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates of Al Jafarah are: 32.048889, 13.281111.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (2) [ collapse]