Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

Lib2011-202

Incident date

October 6, 2011

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.20892, 16.58866 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 17 people were killed, including one man who was a soldier in Qadhafi’s forces, in Sirte by rebel forces around October 6, 2011 according to the UN Report Source Page 78.

A Tawerghan living in an IDP camp was a relative of the soldier killed and was told about his relative’s death by someone that survived the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (1 man1 other protected person)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.20892, 16.58866. 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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (1 man1 other protected person)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Incident Code

LQ069

Incident date

October 1, 2018

Location

طرابلس‎: مطار معيتيقة, Tripoli: Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.895041, 13.2785 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various local sources reported artillery shelling on Tripoli Mitiga Airport leading to a temporary suspension of flights.

218 TV said: “The international airport of Mitiga announced the suspension of its flights until further notice, due to the repeated exposure to indiscriminate missiles by unknown parties who haven’t as yet revealed their identity.”

Libya Alahrar TV wrote that “the Minister of the Interior in the Government of National Accord, Abdul Salam Ashour, reported the fall of a shell at the airport of Muaitika International without causing any damage.

For its part, the international airport announced on its Facebook page to suspend flights to the airport until further notice, without giving details.”

The Libya Observer said flights were resumed a day later.

Reports of indiscriminate artillery shelling point at the 7th Brigade or GNA-affiliated militias as the perpetrator.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Images of the aftermath
  • More pictures of the incident

Government of National Accord Assessment:

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

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (6) [ 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

Lib2011-104

Incident date

June 5, 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

One child was possibly injured in a NATO airstrike on Tripoli.

A video report uploaded by Adam Nafusa says that the government had claimed the child was injured by an airstrike, while a hospital worker insisted they had been injured in a car accident.

Reuters also said it had learned from a hospital staff member that the child was injured in an accident.

NATO itself and other sources only reported airstrikes on Tripoli but no civilian harm.

Throughout the whole 2011 NATO intervention some independent monitors assessed that the Gaddafi regime had routinely fabricated civilian harm allegations.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video showing the supposed victim

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.886602, 13.190912. 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
Official source

In Tripoli: 1 Command & Control Facility. In the vicinity of Tripoli: 2 Command & Control Facilities, 1 Surface-To-Air Missile Storage Facility, 1 Ground Forces Compound, 1 Air Defence Forces Compound, 4 Surface-To-Air Missile Launchers, 1 Radar.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • 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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC227

Incident date

October 24, 2019

Location

وادي الربيع, Wadi al Rabie, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.709600, 13.382378 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A nurse was reportedly injured in an LNA airstrike on a field hospital in Wadi al Rabie.

Al Wasat reported: “The media office of Operation Volcano of Wrath announced that a nurse was injured in an aerial bombardment that targeted the field hospital in Wadi al Rabie axis south of the capital Tripoli.

The office said that the nurse was taken to a hospital in the capital for treatment, noting that the bombing caused extensive damage to the hospital, and the destruction of a number of ambulances.”

Other sources published similar accounts.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • 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
    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]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the field hospital allegedly damaged by an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • A car allegedly damaged by an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Picture of the field hospital allegedly damaged by an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Cars allegedly damaged by an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Building allegedly damaged by an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • Building allegedly damaged by an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • Impact of an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • Ordnance allegedly used in an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • Ordnance allegedly used in an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • A car allegedly damaged by an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • An ambulance allegedly damaged by an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • A car and an ambulance allegedly damaged by an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • A car and an ambulance allegedly damaged by an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • An ambulance allegedly damaged by an airstrike on October 24th, 2019 (via Libya Alahrar TV)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Wadi Al Rabie (الطويشة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.709600, 13.382378. 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 Wadi Al Rabie (الطويشة).

    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
    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
    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

LC253

Incident date

December 13, 2019

Location

مشروع الهضبة, Hadaba project, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.838333, 13.175278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly killed by LNA artillery shelling on the Hadaba project area of Tripoli.

Tarhuna 24 said: “Artillery shelling targets Al-Wefaq [GNA] concentrations in Hadaba project.”

Tripoli 219 wrote: “Also today’s evening, in the [Hadaba] project, a random shell landed on a citizen who had been hospitalized. Unfortunately, he died in the hospital.”

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    GNA

Sources (2) [ collapse]

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
    Artillery
  • 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
    Libyan National Army
  • Suspected target
    GNA

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC280

Incident date

January 25, 2020

Location

مستشفى الصفوة , Al Safwa Hospital, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.832282, 13.192586 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians were allegedly injured because of indiscriminate shelling near the Al Safwa hospital in Tripoli.

According to the Field Medicine and Support Center, “a shell targeted the Safwa clinic this evening, Saturday, 25-1-2020 in the Hadaba area, which resulted in the injury of citizen Hossam Nouri al-Mabrouk and citizen Yassin Ali Askar.”

Libya Observer and the GNA-led Burkan Al Ghadab operation also reported two injured people.

Al Wasat reported: “In a statement to Al-Wasat Gate, three people were injured as a result of an air strike on a café adjacent to the Al-Safwa Clinic in the Hadaba area, one of whom was seriously wounded”

Libya Alahrar TV said: “A indiscriminate missile by Haftar militia targets the Al-Safwa Hospital, in the Al-Hadba Al-Qassi area, and wounding civilians”

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Hossam Nouri al-Mabrouk
Adult male injured
Yassin Ali Askar
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • An alleged victim from LNA shelling on Tripoli on January 25th, 2020 (via FMSC)
  • An alleged victim from LNA shelling on Tripoli on January 25th, 2020 (via FMSC)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Al Safwa Hospital (مستشفى الصفوة) for which the generic coordinates are: 32.832282, 13.192586. 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC313

Incident date

March 18, 2020

Location

المزاوغة, Al Mazawaga, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.828453, 13.254978 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly injured by indiscriminate shelling on Ain Zara.

The Ambulance Services Libya said: “A shell landed in Al-Mazawaga village, Ain Zara, at a house. Rescue teams went to the place and a case was rescued for treatment.”

Tk Yahroug Kl shy reported mortar shelling and posted an carbon copy of the report from the Ambulance Services.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • 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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Building allegedly damaged by indiscrimante shelling on March 16th, 2020 (via Tk Yahroug Kl shy)
  • Building allegedly damaged by indiscrimante shelling on March 16th, 2020 (via Tk Yahroug Kl shy)
  • Building allegedly damaged by indiscrimante shelling on March 16th, 2020 (via Tk Yahroug Kl shy)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Mazawaga (المزاوغة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.828453, 13.254978. 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
    Contested strike
  • 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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]