Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LQ028

Incident date

March 29, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.0802474, 18.7866211 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to its Facebook page, an LNA MiG-21 and a MiG-23 targeted an alleged terrorist headquarters in Qawarsheh and completely destroyed it. The strikes took place at 12:10.

At 15:58 the MiG-21 reportedly struck two vessels 150km west off the coast of Benghazi.

At 22:45 the helicopter formation targeted two boats and at 03:25 and 04:55 in the same night it targeted other vessels.
The fate of any civilian crews onboard the vessels remains unknown.

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

LQ007

Incident date

April 1, 2015

Location

الزنتان, Zintan, Airport, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

31.771818, 12.248748 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to several local sources, GNC/Libya Dawn planes bombed Zintan airport as well as the nearby village of Rujban. Most sources reported material damage, though there was no mention of civilian harm.

Zintan Airport spokesperson Omar Maatouk, speaking to Libya Herald, said that the front of the airport building was damaged by the seven shells fired. He also said that there had been no civilian casualties.

The report said: “There were no casualties at Zintan, Matoq said, adding that a number of nearby houses had been hit by shrapnel. He later said that the aircraft used was an Aero L-39 jet trainer and named the pilots as from Ghariyan and the Tripoli suburb of Fashloum.”

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
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Militias Dawn of Libya bombard residential areas in Rajaban, forcing the village to suspend the study. Libya (via Libyan™)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Libyan™)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Libyan™)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Libyan™)
  • Another picture of the aftermath (via 988nabed)
  • Another picture of the aftermath (via 988nabed)

General National Congress (GNC) Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    General National Congress (GNC)
  • General National Congress (GNC) 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
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC153

Incident date

June 18, 2019

Location

تاجوراء‎, Tajoura, Tripoli , Libya

Geolocation

32.827820, 13.389361 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that three civilians had been injured in an attack on Mellitah Oil and Gas Company, Tajoura, Tripoli, on June 18th.

While two other sources reported the incident, no civilian harm was claimed in these sources.

Libya Alahrar News alleged that “the National Oil Corporation confirmed the injury of three workers in the company Mellitah oil and gas, as a result of air bombardment on Tuesday in Tajoura. “The bombing is a tragic loss,” said Mustafa Sannalla, chairman of the foundation, adding that the ongoing threats have been affecting the lives of workers in the sector, and undermining efforts to ensure the continuation of production.”

Meanwhile, 218 TV reported that “the tank of Mellitah oil and gas company in Tajoura is bombed, causing it to burn”.

The attack has been attributed to the LNA.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Image caption translation: "Warlord Haftar’s warplane bombs oil facility and tannery in Tajoura, east Tripoli" (via Libya Observer)
  • Image caption translation: "The National Oil Corporation confirmed the injury of three workers in the company Mellitah oil and gas as a result of air bombardment Tuesday on National Oil Corporation in Tajoura." (via Libya Alahrar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Mellitah Oil and Gas Company, allegedly located within the town of Tajoura (تاجوراء‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Tajoura are: 32.82782, 13.389361.

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ 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

LC213

Incident date

October 6, 2019

Location

جنزور, Janzur: Equestrian Club, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.834054, 13.011325 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were allegedly injured in an LNA airstrike on the Equestrian Club in Janzur.

The Libya Observer said: “Airstrikes by Khalifa Haftar’s backup warplanes hit the Equestrian School in Janzour – west of Tripoli – injuring three to five children and one old man and killing a number of horses, both Fursan Janzour Brigade’s spokesman Ahmed Abdeljalili and other sources have reported.

The sources added that the school was full of children training on horse riding when Haftar’s warplanes struck it.”

Al Wasat reported: “Osama Ali, a spokesman for emergency services, said six people were injured in an air strike on the equestrian club in Janzur, most of them children.”

218 TV reported the same number of victims and said that LNA spokesperson Ahmed Al Mesmari denied LNA involvement.

Libya Alahrar TV added: “The assessment team confirmed that a fighter plane dropped four unguided bombs at the Equestrian Club, a civilian facility, and did not detect any military assets or facilities.”

UNSMIL heavily condemend the incident: “The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is appalled by an airstrike conducted by General Haftar’s forces, targeting the Equestrian Club in Tripoli’s Janzour neighbourhood. The airstrike, which took place today in the afternoon, reportedly injured a number of innocent children and caused damage to the Club’s facilities.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Iyad Shaaban
Age unknown male injured
Hussam Abu Bakr
Age unknown male injured
Abdul Rahim Fathi
Age unknown male injured
Abdul Rahman Al-Shtaiwi
Age unknown male injured
Mohammed Al-Soni
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • Video report by Libya Alahrar TV
  • Child being treated after being injured in an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Victim being treated after being injured in an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Child being treated after being injured in an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Victim being treated after being injured in an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Horse killed in an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Child being carried away after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Smoke rising after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • Child being treated after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Ambulance Services)
  • Smoke rising after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • Smoke rising after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • Smoke rising after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • Smoke rising after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • Destruction after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • Destruction after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • Damaged building after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • Damaged building after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • Smoke rising after an alleged LNA strike on Janzur on October 6th, 2019 (via Tk Yahroug Kl shy)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Equestrian Club in Janzur (جنزور), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.834054, 13.011325. 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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC240

Incident date

November 9, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎: طريق المطار, Tripoli: Airport road, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.806027, 13.139814 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were allegedly injured by indiscriminate artillery shelling in the south of Tripoli.

Tk Yahroug Kl shy reported: “A shell hit a house on the airport road near the self-sufficiency (Al Iktifa’ Al Zati) project and injured three family members, we ask God for safety.”

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

There is currently no further information available

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Airport road (طريق المطار) in Tripoli (طرابلس‎) for which the generic coordinates are: 32.834151 13.216582. 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC269

Incident date

January 1, 2020

Location

مشروع الهضبة, Hadaba project, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.838333, 13.175278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed and three others including a 70-year-old woman were injured by shrapnel in alleged LNA shelling on the Hadaba Project area in Tripoli, Libya on January 1st, 2020, according to local sources.

The fatality was identified as Issam Wanis Al-Drou’i Al-Warfalli and sources reported that the four civilians might belong to the same family and the mortar had hit their building.

According to the GNA-led Burkan Al Ghadab operation, two young men aged 25 were among the wounded.

Libya Observer reported that “Dozens of indiscriminate shells fell during the past two days on Al-Hadaba neighborhood and Crown Prince Street, as clashes continue to flare up in these neighborhoods.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Old woman injured in the attack on Mashrou’ Al Hadaba allegedly by Haftar forces (via Libya Observer)
  • Issam Wanis Al-Drou’i Al-Warfalli was reported killed in the strike on the Hadaba project area on January 1st (via Tk Yahrouq kl shy)
  • Another picture of the woman injured on January 1st in the Hadaba project area (via Burkan Al Ghadab operation)
  • Another picture of a victim injured on January 1st in the Hadaba project area (via Burkan Al Ghadab operation)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Hadaba Project (مشروع الهضبة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.838333, 13.175278. 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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC299

Incident date

February 18, 2020

Location

ميناء طرابلس, Tripoli: Port, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.90666, 13.186038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reportedly killed and five more injured by an LNA artillery strike on the Tripoli port area.

Al Wasat said: “According to the media center for Operation Burkan Al Gahdab, Fawzi Onis, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health in the Al-Wefaq government, announced the death of three civilians and the injury of five others.

Witnesses confirmed that shells fell on the main port of Tripoli earlier today, and one of the owners of shops near the port indicated in a statement to the Al Wasat that smoke was rising from several sites that were bombed, benefiting that there were ‘news of the burning of a boat that was anchored in the port.'”

Other sources also reported the death toll provided by the Ministry of Health.

218TV said: “A source familiar with 218 exclusive details revealed the truth about the victims of the National Army’s targeting of the Port of Tripoli last Tuesday, confirming that 3 people were killed, two of them were Turkish officers, one of whom was of high rank, in addition to a Syrian fighter, who were in the Port of Tripoli at the moment of his targeting.”

It added: “In search of confirmation of the news and details provided by the source to 218, the website herdem newes referred to the killing of the Turkish intelligence officer, Colonel Ghazi, the former commander of the Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield operations in Syria, and the injury of a Syrian fighter named a Ayman Mahalli from the Syrian Jarabulus.

The website quoted a source close to the family of the Syrian ‘Ayman Mahalli’ that the latter was working as a translator for the Turkish intelligence officer while they were in Tripoli.

It is noteworthy that the media affiliated with Al-Wefaq rushed to report the death of 3 civilians as a result of the bombing, but the reality of the matter seems to contradict this news, the first of which was written by the prominent leader of the Al-Nawasi Brigade, Muhammad Al-Azhar Abu Daraa, known as the ‘Fund’ in his personal page on Facebook in response to statements regarding the fall of civilians as a result of the bombing.”

218TV also quoted the LNA media office on saying that a weapons cache was hit in the port area. However, ImageSat Intl. provided satellite imagery of the incident which shows smoke rising from cargo near the Turkish vessel.

UNSMIL reported “a number of casualties” sadi that the attack “could have led to a real disaster had the vessel transporting liquefied gas been hit.”

The incident occured around midday.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Video of smoke rising from the port
  • Satellite imagery of the incident
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via Libya Observer)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via Tk Yahroug Kl shy)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the port of Tripoli being struck (ميناء طرابلس). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have identified the exact location of the strike at these coordinates: 32.90666, 13.186038. This location is further confirmed by satellite imagery by @ImageSatIntl.

  • Reports of the incident mention the port of Tripoli being struck (ميناء طرابلس). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have identified the exact location of the strike. This location is further confirmed by satellite imagery by @ImageSatIntl.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Evidence of the strike can be seen in a comparison of satellite imagery available. On the left an image from February 8th, 2020, and on the right an image from February 27th, 2020.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    0 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (27) [ collapse]