Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LC031

Incident date

June 2, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Al Qawarishah, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.021758, 20.077171 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An LNA MiG-21 carried out a series of airstrikes in Al-Shajar Street and hit one target near the Gwaresh buildings according to its social media.

A single Twitter source added that LNA forces had hit a civilian house with barrel bombs, claiming that “Haftar Air targets more civilian houses with explosive barrels.” There were no other claims of civilian casualties or infrastructure damage.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Shajar street (بشارع الشجر), allegedly within the neighbourhood of Al Qawarishah (قرقارش). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Qawarishah are: 32.021758, 20.077171.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Al Shajar street (بشارع الشجر), allegedly within the neighbourhood of Al Qawarishah (قرقارش).

    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
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC032

Incident date

June 9, 2016

Location

شركة الجبل, Al Jabal Company, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.769444, 22.617222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three and as many as six civilians – most of them children – died in airstrikes on Derna, according to sources on the ground.

LNA reported that its MiG-23 carried out air raids near the Western gates of Derna. While the LNA report didn’t mention civilian casualties, local sources reported between three and five dead and eight injured civilians in Bab Sheha in the western part of the city centre. Alwasat identified three names including two children.

According to Arabi21, “two children and a woman were killed in the city of Derna, east as a result of the bombing by military aircraft belonging to Khalifa Hafter. Others, including children, were wounded.”

Heba Mahmoud put the death toll higher, with “a woman and five children killed and four residential buildings damaged by shelling”.

Wkalat Wady Dynar Alakhbarya joined some other sources in reporting that a middle-aged woman died in addition to children, though no name was given.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

6 years old male Via Alwasat news killed
14 years old male Via Alwasat news killed
16 years old female Via Alwasat news killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (2–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video from the hospital shows the child who was killed following an alleged LNA airstrike in Derna (Source: Al-Ahd media)
  • Another video shows the several strikes conducted in various places in Derna city (Source: Al Nabaa TV)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage shows the funeral of the two victims (Source: al Nabaa TV)
  • A picture shows a civilian house destroyed following an alleged LNA airstrike on Derna (Source: Alwasat news)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a child, killed or injured followed an alleged LNA airstrike on Derna (Source: Alwasat news)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Al Jabal Company (شركة الجبل), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.769444, 22.617222. 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (2–3 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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

LC033

Incident date

June 13, 2016

Location

درنة‎, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.716612, 22.670583 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local media reports, a father and his son were killed in an LNA airstrike south of Derna while driving in their car to go to the bank.

Alwasat reported:A medical source in the city of Derna confirmed that a man and his son were killed by Libyan air force shelling of a car they were travelling in on the way south of Darnah. The bodies of Hussein Ahmoudh al-Muzaini, born in 1961, and his son Ibrahim Hussein al-Muzaini, born in 1989, are residents of the 400 district of the eastern coast of Derna, the source said”.

According to Derna Zoom, the victims were travelling to Derna to withdraw their salaries from local banks when they were killed.

The pair were also named by other sources including Ean Libya, Abdelhamid Amrooni and Press Sebha. Fera Bosalum said that the bombing was carried out by a helicopter.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

55 years old male Via @al3mrooni killed
27 years old male Via @al3mrooni killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • 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]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: the car of Hassin 55-year-old and his son Ibrahim 27-year-old, killed as a result of an airstrike in the morning while they are driving to the bank in Derna (Source: @al3mrooni)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage shows the two victims after being attacked by the airstrike (Source: Alwasat)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another footage shows the victims just followed the strike in Derna (Source: Derna Zoom)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck on a road south of Derna (درنة‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Derna are: 32.716612, 22.670583.

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
    2
  • 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

LQ031

Incident date

June 16, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Regency Hotel, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.133136, 20.070739 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The LNA reported that it targeted a boat with an airstrike near the Regency Hotel near Sabri, and reported terrorist positions near Qawarsheh. In addition, it said its MiG-21 hit a moving target at the roundabout near the pipe factory.

Local sources added that an ISIS leader named Hassan al-Mushaiti was killed in one of the airstrikes. In addition, another airstrike was reportedly conducted in Qawarsheh.

The status of any civilian crew onboard the vessel is 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 (5) [ 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC034a

Incident date

June 26, 2016

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly killed by an airstrike on Sirte.

Sirte El Azz posted: “The death of Haj Mohammed Hussein Faraj al Jair Kadhafi as a result of aerial bombardment, where he was in his farm next to camels.”

Other sources published similar accounts.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC034

Incident date

June 26, 2016

Location

قنفودة, Ganfouda, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.028594, 20.026959 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the LNA Facebook page, a MiG-23 hit two targets in Ganfouda. A MiG-21 also hit two targets near the Nairouz resort.

A Mi-17 team also reportedly targeted Qawarsheh and two boats near the Nairouz resort that were unloading ammunition and personnel.

A single Twitter source claimed that a ‘foreign aircraft’ had bombed a civilian home at night at Ganfouda but didn’t specify the belligerent. The status of any civilian crew on board the boats is also unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Libyan National Army

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Part of the destruction of the families' homes in Qanfouda Because of the bombing of foreign spy planes at night #Unseize the siege of Derna (Source: @benghazip)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Ganfouda (قنفودة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.028594, 20.026959. 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

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Unknown, Libyan National Army

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC035

Incident date

July 8, 2016

Location

عمارة شنيب, Shneib building, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.768776, 22.646323 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and 10 civilians died and up to nine more were wounded in alleged LNA airstrikes on residential areas of Derna, local sources said.

Arabi 21 put the death toll at one, reporting that “a civilian was killed and eight wounded on Saturday in an air strike on a plane belonging to retired Brigadier General Khalifa Haftar on the eastern city of Derna. The Al-Karama operation carried out three air strikes on civilian sites in the city, one of which targeted the residential building of Shneib and ambulances transporting the wounded”.

Human Rights Watch also put the death toll at one – with nine more wounded.

However, Ean Libya put the death toll much higher, claiming “at least 10 civilians killed” in “four raids by the Al-Karama air force on residential neighbourhoods, resulting in serious damage to buildings”.

Bombings on that day took place from multiple aircraft near the police station square, the port area and the Shneib building according to the LNA itself – the latter where the civilians most likely were killed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–9
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: Photos of the bombing of the aircraft of the criminal Haftar for a residential building, police station square and Derna port in the explosive barrel this morning resulted in 7 civilian casualties There is no power but from God (Source: Alrased journalist)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Schneib Building (عمارة شنيب) being struck, for which the exact coordinates are: 32.768776, 22.646323.

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 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    8–9
  • 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

LC036

Incident date

July 12, 2016

Location

درنة‎, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.755841, 22.637778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The LNA reported that it had struck Al Qaeda in the western part of Derna. Other sources said the steam station got damaged.

One person on Twitter posted an image of a dead child but didn’t give any further details except for saying it was in Derna.

The event could be discounted as the footage of the dead child comes from an Al Ahed Media report from June 6th 2016.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: The shelling of the supply of goods in front of the Darnah steam station "what is known as the direct factory circuit" caused severe material damage (Source: @hishamalkuni)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Derna (درنة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.75591, 22.637772. 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]