Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

Lib2011-155

Incident date

August 29, 2011

Location

إقامة عائلة جفارة, Residence of Jfara family, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

31.738333, 13.995833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and six civilians were allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Bani Walid.

A Human Rights Watch investigation found: “During the night of August 29 or the early morning of August 30, 2011, NATO aircraft struck two adjacent homes belonging to Fathi Abdulsalam Jfara and his son Farid Fathi Jfara in the town of Bani Walid, 170 kilometers southeast of Tripoli. The attack killed five members of the family—two men, two woman and one girl—and wounded another girl.

Human Rights Watch obtained copies of the medical reports for all five victims issued by Bani Walid General Hospital, which listed the date of death as August 30. The causes of death were a variety of traumatic injuries, including a fractured skull and internal bleeding. Human Rights Watch also obtained copies of the five death certificates, which put the date of death for each person as August 30 and the cause of death as ‘NATO strike.'”

The NGO interwieved one of the family member of those killed in the attack: “A few seconds before, the family was sitting and chatting together. And then it went quiet. I started running away from the area. People expected they would strike the whole neighborhood; children, women, everyone started evacuating the area. I was crying and asking people for help, ‘My family is dead! My family is dead!’

According to Farid Jfara and other witnesses, the electricity was out in the area, so neighbors brought cars with headlights to search for the wounded and dead. He said:

‘We first found three bodies: my father, my mother and brother Fadel. Their bodies flew 25 meters from the porch to the outside. We didn’t see them immediately. We were looking under the wreckage. And they found my little sister Farah lying by my house. Our homes are seven meters apart. Some of her limbs had flown off and her organs had flown out too.’

Someone heard a sound of my sister Fairuz—a faint, high-pitch scream from under the rubble. I was traumatized by what happened, so I was crying by the main door, but I heard someone shooting into the air and crying, ‘She is alive! She is alive!’ so I tried to get to her. They stopped me and kept me away.

The wounded girl, Fairuz Fathi Jfara, 15, suffered head wounds and is recovering from difficulties with her speech and hearing, family members said.”

In an apparent contradiction to Farid Jfara’s statement which said the strike hit at 3.30am “Human Rights Watch interviewed four neighbors, three of whom said the attack took place at 8 p.m. on August 29. All of them said they lived in a residential neighborhood that had not seen military activity.”

Mustafa Al Fitouri also reported five deaths from the Jfara family.

Libya24 and Bani Walid Blogger reported and additional death.

NATO on that day declared striking “2 Command and Control Node, 1 Military Ammo Storage Facility” near Bani Walid.

The incident occured between 3:30 am and 8:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

55 years old male killed
51 years old female killed
30 years old female killed
23 years old male killed
9 years old male killed
15 years old female killed

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child2 women2–3 men)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Members of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bassam Abo Vana)
  • Members of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Najma Faraj)
  • Fathi Jfara, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Tawarghae libya)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Members of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)
  • Home of the Jfara family, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blog)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the house of Jfara family (جفارة) being struck, within the city of Bani Walid (زليتن), the exact location of which has been published by Human Rights Watch. The exact coordinates are: 31.738333, 13.995833.

  • Reports of the incident mention the house of Jfara family (جفارة) being struck, within the city of Bani Walid (زليتن), the exact location of which has been published by Human Rights Watch.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces

In the vicinity of Bani Walid: 2 Command and Control Node, 1 Military Ammo Storage Facility.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child2 women2–3 men)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-170

Incident date

September 20, 2011

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.190547, 16.571441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On September 20th, 2011, Reuters reported that a spokesman for Gaddafi stated that 151 civilians were killed due to shelling on Sirte.

This number was unable to be verified. Independent investigators later found that civilian casualty number reported by the Gaddafi regime were hugely inflated of fabricated.

NATO confirmed airstrikes on “1 Command and Control Node, 5 Surface to Air Missile Systems” near Sirte.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    151
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.190547, 16.571441. 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

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Command and Controle Node, 5 Surface to Air Missile Systems.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    151
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-113

Incident date

June 20, 2011

Location

الرويسات, Roiussat, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.364997, 15.110699 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was allegedly killed and his mother severely injured by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling on the Roiussat area of Misurata.

Al Somood reported: “The missile that fell yesterday evening in the Roiussat area was at the house of the Abu Shaiba family. A child was killed and his mother was seriously injured and she is now in the intensive care room.”

Libya Alahrar TV and @RanimMoh wrote he was 16 years old, Al Zawiya said 14.

Al Aan said the father was also injured.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

16 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video of the aftermath
  • Another video showing the aftermath

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Roiussat (الرويسات) within the city of Misrata (مصراتة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Roiussat are: 32.364997, 15.110699.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Roiussat (الرويسات) within the city of Misrata (مصراتة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Gaddafi Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-005

Incident date

February 17, 2011

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.112582, 20.082151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 17th, multiple sources reported at least 13 and as many as 20 civilian fatalities and up to 200 more injured by Gaddafi security forces in Benghazi, who were said to have fired live rounds on Gamal Abdel Nasser Street.

Al Jazeera reports “there were reports of six deaths in the Benghazi confrontations, where supporters of the Libyan regime in civilian clothes (thugs) fired live bullets at the demonstrators on Jamal Abdel Nasser Street as well as on Amr bin Al-Aas Street in the city center.”

A Facebook post from Ehab Al Shibani later named the 13 dead.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
18 years old male killed
20 years old male killed
13 years old male killed
26 years old male killed
24 years old male killed
18 years old male killed
19 years old male killed
29 years old male killed
36 years old male killed
27 years old male killed
19 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–200
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Images of all the victims, taken from https://www.facebook.com/groups/149258408469329/permalink/405694566159044/
  • Salah El-Din Al-Jahawi, taken from https://www.facebook.com/groups/166805546685121/permalink/474239765941696/
  • Images of all the victims, taken from https://www.facebook.com/145805892249838/photos/a.145806865583074/147381082092319/

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Benghazi (بنغازي‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.112582, 20.082151. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.  

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 20
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–200
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-146

Incident date

August 22, 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

Between seven and 16 people, including three belligerents, were killed on Abu Salim Highway in Tripoli by Gaddafi snipers on August 22, 2011.

A young man from the Abu Salim area told Libyans that 30 Gaddafi supporters were stationed on the bridge and another group were stationed under the bridge off the highway and they were shooting random cars passing by, especially those with the independence flag.

A video posted by Ahmadov2010 on YouTube shows the bodies of at least four men killed and a video by Son of Abo Salim showed the body of another man killed.

The names of the civilians killed:

Ahmed Ali Aoun

Muhammad Mustafa Al-Ashtar

Muhammad Saad, Muhammad Mushtafa’s cousin

Hazem Abd Al-Salam Al-Marimi

The incident occured at approximately 11:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Adult male killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 13
  • (4 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Ali Aoun
  • Muhammad Saad
  • Tariq Ali Ashkandali .. .. Ibrahim Ali Ashkandali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • Muhammad Saad

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 13
  • (4 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC430

Incident date

July 22, 2022

Location

شارع المطبات طريق المشتل, Al Matabat street in Al Mashtal road, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.847656, 13.289481 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a young man, was killed and four to five other men were injured in shelling carried out by “presidential agencies” on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022.

According to @tkyroogklshytk, a shell fell on Al-Matabat Street behind the Qadour Clinic near a group of young men sitting on the street, injuring five of them, some of them seriously. Images posted by @tkyroogklshytk show damage to the road and buildings from the shells’ impacts.

24 Hours posted on Facebook that a young man was killed and four others were wounded by shelling from armed militias on a house on Al-Matabat Street. @L1JmG9xosh7fgo1 tweeted that in addition to the civilian killed, five other people were seriously injured.

A Facebook post by Al Marasad reported that young Ashour Al-Qanuni was killed and four of his neighbors’ sons (Ahmed, Al-Azhar, Asil, Haitham) were injured “after a shell fell on them while they were standing in the street in the Ain Zara area after they went out to perform Friday prayers”.

The majority of sources did not identify who was responsible for the shelling, while Al Marasad posted on Facebook that the “presidential agencies” carried out the shelling, indicating the Government of National Accord (GNA) was involved.

@taqarifatnews reported that the shelling caused a fire inside the wall of a house.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Ahmed
male injured
Al-Azhar
male injured
Asil Al Shabah
male injured
Haitham
male injured

The victims were named as:

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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
    GNA/Turkish Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Damage caused by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Damage caused by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Blood from victims of shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Smoke caused by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Smoke caused by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @tkyroogklshytk)
  • Ashour Al-Qanuni, killed by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by @L1JmG9xosh7fgo1)
  • Ashour Al-Qanuni, killed by shelling on Al Matabat street in Tripoli on July 22, 2022. (Image posted by Mohammed Al Shefer via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a strike in the vicinity of Al Mashtal Road (طريق المشتل) in the Ain Zara (عين زارة) neighbourhood of Tripoli (طرابلس). The generic coordinates for Al Mashtal Road are: 32.847656, 13.289481. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

GNA/Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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
    GNA/Turkish Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

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]