Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

LC021

Incident date

November 24, 2015

Location

مسلاتة, Msallata, Murqub, Libya

Geolocation

32.584018, 14.036651 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians died, and up to 16 more were wounded in an airstrike or artillery attack on a checkpoint in Msallata near Khoms, local media reported.

According to Reda Issa, “Misurata Central Hospital received the bodies of five martyrs who were killed by the treacherous bombing Tuesday morning at the Maslata gate.”

Abdulwahab Mlitan also reported five deaths – and the injury of five more people, while Libya’s Channel put the death toll at five but said that as many as 16 more were wounded.

Alwasat provided the most detail, reporting: “A spokesman for the military council in Misurata, Ibrahim Bait al-Mal, said the bombing of the army police gate near Maslata on Tuesday was not the result of a suicide bombing and was likely to be caused by a missile or aerial bombardment. The explosion occurred at 9:00 am, and we learned that there was a massive explosion at a gate near the city of Al-Khums, which is called Misrata Gate, 120 kilometres east of Tripoli. It is located in Misratah. The explosion caused a significant gap in the ground up to almost three meters.

“Bait al-Mal added that the wounded included six civilians who were passing by the location. Four other members of the military police were also wounded, and the wounded were expected to be interviewed as witnesses to the incident.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    16
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Exclusive photos for Al-Nabaa TV - of the site of the bombing of the gate of Missilata/Khomas gate (Source: Al Naba TV)
  • Translation: A car bomb exploded at the gates of the military police, killing five people and wounding several others There is no power but from God (Source: @wahbe_mlitan)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Msallata (مسلاتة), for which the generic coordinates are 32.584018 14.036651. 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    16
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ018

Incident date

November 25, 2015

Location

درنة‎, port, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.763333, 22.654722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

LNA helicopters reportedly targeted a boat loaded with weapons off the coast of Derna belonging to the Shura Council. Alarabiya said that the captain of the boat initially claimed it was carrying humanitarian aid. Sources reported that the strike killed Ansar Al Sharia leader Hamid Alshaari.

According to Alshorook, “Ansar al-Sharia, the so-called Shura Council of Mujahideen Darnah, announced the killing of its leader Hamid al-Shaeri in an air strike two days ago in the eastern city of Derna.”

It is unknown whether any civilian crew were killed or injured in the attack.

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 attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (11) [ collapse]

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 attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ019

Incident date

December 7, 2015

Location

بنغازي‎, Ganfouda, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.010556, 20.006389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, more than 18 LNA airstrikes were carried out in Benghazi in the areas of Ganfouda, Bouatni, Sidi Faraj near the cement factory, and Marissa port. The strikes in Ganfouda reportedly targeted a convoy with 16 cars.

On December 7th, Sputnik said: “Libyan air force spokesman Nasir al-Hassi told Sputnik that Libyan aircraft had just bombed more than 16 cars moving in Qanfotha, west of Benghazi… Since yesterday morning, more than 18 air strikes have been carried out on several locations and movements of terrorists.”

Tango Roja and Lish La Hia Nubnuha disclosed the following names of ISIS members killed during the strikes:

Abu Zubayr Al Tunisi
Abu Abdulah Al Musri
Abu Abdwahab Al-Ansari
Abu Omar Sudanese
Abonoval al-Ansari
Ahmad Al-Madani Al-Zarqawi
Abu Alwalid Al Misri
Queswara Al Tunisi

There were no local public reports at the time of civilian harm.

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 attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (9) [ collapse]

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 attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ020

Incident date

December 10, 2015

Location

بنغازي‎, Leithi, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.094722, 20.1275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Twitter sources reported airstrikes in the Benghazi neighbourhoods of Leithi, Al-Halis, Al-Nahr, Tika and Bouatni.

According to @LibyasChannel, “the Air Force continued to target the sites of terrorists in Al-Leithi and Alnahr road and Hawari and the western axis in the vicinity of the region of Alhalis”.

There were no known public reports of civilian harm at the time.

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 attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

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 attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC022

Incident date

December 26, 2015

Location

اجدابيا, Ajdabiya, Al Wahat, Libya

Geolocation

30.747792, 20.236924 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

LNA strikes reportedly targeted alleged terrorists in the industrial area of Ajdabiya. Sources reported that a Sudanese cafe and/or car repair shop was struck during the raids – along with a policeman travelling nearby in his car. Up to three civilians reportedly died with as many as 19 more wounded.

According to Libya 24, “military aircraft bombed Ansar al-Sharia sites in the industrial neighbourhood of the city of Ajdabia, where witnesses said that the fighter was targeting the terrorist sites and hit a Sudanese restaurant where some workers had gathered. This led to the deaths of a number of those present and the injuring of more. A medical source at the hospital confirmed that the hospital received one dead person and 19 injured from the site of the shelling, their injuries varying in severity”.

Annahar Online added that “Two people were killed and two others were injured when the Libyan Air Force mistakenly bombed a cafe in the industrial area of Ajdabiya”.

According to Akhbar Libya News 24, the strike also “killed the head of the Criminal Investigation Department, Ajdabiya Mohammed Boubaker Kbaili“. The source said that “Kabbaili was driving his car with his son in the industrial neighbourhood during the air strikes. He sustained shrapnel injuries from which he died, while his son was admitted to hospital for treatment”.

It went on to say that the Libyan Air Force was targeting warehouses in the industrial neighbourhood, resulting in the strikes accidentally hitting The Blue Nile Cafe. Three people reportedly died with 17 more wounded.

@rawadfree1 didn’t report a raid on a Sudanese cafe but said that “a car repair shop owned by Sudanese people” – though it made no mention of civilian harm. Faraj Shitaw referred to the bombing of a  “workshop”.

Similarly, the source Akhbar Libya 24 didn’t report any civilian casualties but said that Libyan Air Force strikes led to “a large number of deaths among the terrorist militias”. It added that “what is striking is the accuracy of these air raids targeting the leaders of these organisations and their gatherings”.

The incident occured at 09:45:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–19
  • 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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Libyan Air Force hit a restaurant and workshop belongs to Sudanese in Ajdabiya today (Source: @ rawadfree1)
  • Translation: photos of the site of Ansar Sharia, which was targeted by air strikes by air force planes in the city of Ajdabia this morning (Source: @mohamedalzober)
  • Translation: Ajdabiya Libyan Air Force bombarded several locations of Daesh this morning and reported 19 terrorist attacks (Source: @ MstrMax11)
  • Translation: 3. New aerial bombardments carried out by Haftar warplanes targeting the industrial zone south of Ajdabiya (Source: @ ahmad_khalifa78)
  • Translation: Photos showing some of the Sudanese nationality of the survivors of the bombardment of war criminal aircraft Haftar and sprayed in the city of Ajdabia. While the pages and channels of dignity(LNA) since the morning news that the bombing of "ammunition store" in the city of Ajdabia (Source: Faraj Shitaw)

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a strike targeting a restaurant and possibly a car repair shop in Ajdabiya (اجدابيا).  After evaluating visual material from sources, we narrowed this down to two buildings across the street from one another, for which the the exact coordinates are: 30.747792, 20.236924.

  • Image showing neighborhood damaged by airstrike

    Imagery:
    Witness

  • Image showing moment of airstrike behind water tower

    Imagery:
    Witness

  • Satellite imagery showing distribution of features in witness-provided evidence

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Satellite image showing two buildings on opposite sides of street targeted by airstrike. Note the targeted buildings are near the features tagged "E" and "G" in the preceding images.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    17–19
  • 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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ021

Incident date

January 5, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Airwars assessment

The LNA reported that it conducted airstrikes against what it described as terrorists in the neighbourhoods of Hawari, the fish market, and Bosnib, along with other targets in the Western part of the city. Al Arabiya reported that a MiG-21 was also shot down by ISIS during the bombings, crashing without reported loss of life in a suburban area.

Despite the heavy strikes on the city, no civilian casualties were publicly reported at the time. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ022

Incident date

January 12, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Power plant, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.202222, 20.133611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The LNA reported that it conducted airstrikes against ISIS in Benghazi. The Air Force targeted a field hospital and an ammuniton store in Sidi Faraj, a camp in Garyounis, ISIS centres in Sabri and Al-Leithi and various vehicles at the axis of the Safsafa project.

An UNSMIL report later noted that a power plant had been hit by an airstrike, and condemned the action against civilian infrastructure.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (2) [ collapse]

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
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ023

Incident date

January 31, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Leithi, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.094722, 20.1275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

LNA reported that it carried out intensive airstrikes against ISIS targets in the Sabri, Bouatni, Al-Leithi, Hawari and Qawarsheh areas of Benghazi.

However, despite the intensive attacks there were no known local reports of civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]