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

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

Incident Code

LC187a

Incident date

August 31, 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

Between six and eight civilians were allegedly killed in an LNA airstrike on Murzuq.

The Libya Observer reported: “The member of Murzuq municipality Mohammed Omar said a warplane for Khalifa Haftar’s forces struck Saturday afternoon Murzuq in southern Libya twice.

Omar told the German news agency that between six and eight people had been killed in airstrikes on eastern part of the town – Anti-Desertification Project – near the meteorology building where many houses are located.”

There is currently no more 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
    6 – 8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village 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.

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
    6 – 8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC187

Incident date

August 27, 2019

Location

العزيزية‎, Aziziya, Jafara, Libya

Geolocation

32.531577, 13.020688 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed in an LNA airstrike on Aziziya.

Libya Alahrar TV wrote that one person was injured in the attack.

The Libya Observer said: “Breaking News: A drone belonging to warlord Khalifa Haftar destroys an ambulance for the field hospital in Aziziya region, south Tripoli, killing its driver.”

Hona Souq Al-Khmies reported one dead and one injured.

Tk Yahrouq Kl shy only mentioned damage to the ambulance.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the ambulance allegedly destroyed in the attack
  • Picture of an alleged victim

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Aziziya (العزيزية‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.531577, 13.020688. 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, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC186

Incident date

August 27, 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

Between four and six civilians allegedly died as a result of a Turkish or GNA airstrike on Gheryan.

Afrigate reported: “Turkish air strikes brought by the Wefaq government bombed Al Asabi’a  on Tuesday, the Karama [LNA] Operations Room said.

The chamber added that the bombing resulted in the martyrdom of four civil servants who were present in their work in the warehouses of the goods.”

Most other sources also referred to the LNA statement, saying that fou civilians died.

Libya Alahrar TV said the strike was carried out by a GNA plane and did not mention civilian harm.

Tk Yahrouq Kl shy wrote that the strike resulted in six deaths but did not say if they were civilians. It added that artillery was used in addition to the airstrike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Turkish Military

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

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC185a

Incident date

August 26, 2019

Location

الكليبة , Kalipa, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

32.051121, 12.994832 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed by mortar shelling in Kalipa.

Tk Yahrouq Kl shy said: “A mortar falls on the house of Moftah Salem Taroum in Kalipa area which led to his death (he is father to 6 children).”

The same source also posted a video showing the bodies of various people, possibly also militants killed in the LNA’s advance on Gheryan.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Moftah Salem Taroum
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Kalipa (الكليبة). The coordinates for Kalipa are 32.051121, 12.994832. 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC185

Incident date

August 24, 2019

Location

سوق الكريمية الاستثماري, Vicinity of Al Keramia Market, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.752289, 13.087297 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians were allegedly killed in an LNA or UAE airstrike on Al-Swani.

The Libya Observer tweeted: “Military Source: An airstrike carried out by UAE-backed Haftar’s air force militia destroys a civilian’s car killing three family members fleeing the fighting in Swani region, south Tripoli.”

Hona Souq Al-Khmies also put the death toll at three.

The GNA’s Burkan Al Ghadab operation reported the same number of victims and added a few more were injured.

Libya Alahrar TV quoted the mayor of Al Swani, saying that three civilians were killed by an LNA airstrike. It later updated the number to four.

According to 218TV, a media outlet close to the LNA, “National Army spokesman Major General Ahmed al-Mesmari denied on Saturday that the army’s air force targeted a civilian car in Al-Swani area south of Tripoli, killing a number of civilians.

Al-Mesmari quoted the Air Force as saying that the images from the scene of the explosion indicate that the car in question was hit by a missile or a launcher from the left rear side, causing damage on that side only that could not be caused by aviation ammunition.”

Libya’s Channel also said the LNA confirmed the strikes without admitting to civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • 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 attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Video of the aftermath
  • Pictures of the aftermath
  • More pictures of the aftermath
  • More pictures from the incident

Geolocation notes (5) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Al Keramia Market (سوق الكريمية الاستثماري) in the neighbourhood of Al Keramia (الكريمية). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to these exact coordinates: 32.752289, 13.087297.

  • Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Al Keramia Market (سوق الكريمية الاستثماري) in the neighbourhood of Al Keramia (الكريمية).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • 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 attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC184

Incident date

August 24, 2019

Location

مطار معيتيقة, Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.895041, 13.2785 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly injured by indiscriminate artillery shelling on the Mitiga Airport in Tripoli. The rival GNA accused the LNA of being the culprit.

Libya Alahrar TV reported: “One injured as a result of the shelling of Mitiga airport during the arrival of pilgrims this morning.”

Other sources, such as Marsad, only reported shelling as well as damage to the airport and adjacent roads: “Mitiga International Airport confirmed that the shelling by an unidentified shell came in conjunction with the arrival of Al-Buraq Airlines flight from Istanbul and Libyan Airlines coming with a group of 265 pilgrims from Jeddah.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the aftermath
  • More pictures of the damage allegedly caused by the shelling
  • More pictures of the aftermath

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Mitiga International Airport (مطار معيتيقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.895041, 13.2785. 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC183

Incident date

August 16, 2019

Location

مطار معيتيقة, Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.895041, 13.2785 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly injured by LNA shelling on Mitiga Airport in Tripoli.

The Facebook page of the Burkan Al Ghadab operation by the rival GNA said: “During the last few hours, the militia of the war criminal Hifter targeted the employees of the Libyan Company for Handling and Ground Services at Mitiga International Airport with Grad rockets, wounding two of them with shrapnel and damaging the buses of passengers.”

Other sources only reported artillery shelling but no civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Another video of the shelling
  • Pictures of the aftermath

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Mitiga International Airport (مطار معيتيقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.895041, 13.2785. 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC182

Incident date

August 15, 2019

Location

مطار معيتيقة, Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.895041, 13.2785 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly killed in an LNA artillery strike on Mitiga Airport in Tripoli.

Akhbar Libya wrote that “one person is reported to have been killed by shells at Mitiga airport.”

Libya Alahrar TV reported: “Security source to Al Ahrar: one person killed and another injured by the targeting of Mitiga International Airport with Grad rockets.”

The Libya Observer said: “Khalifa Haftar’s militia groups shell Mitiga Airport with Grad rockets killing one worker and wounding two others.”

Tk yahrouq kl shy wrote that Ahmed Al Ferjani was killed and three more injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Al Ferjani
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Photos of the aftermath
  • Another picture of the aftermath
  • More pictures of the aftermath
  • Picture of the victim

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Mitiga International Airport (مطار معيتيقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.895041, 13.2785. 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]