Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

Lib2011-003

Incident date

February 15, 2011

Location

شارع العروبة, Al Orouba Street, Bayda, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Seven civilian were allegedly killed and one more injured by Gaddafi forces during protests in Al Bayda.

Al Jazera said: “The number of martyrs in Al-Bayda, east of Benghazi, increased to 7, and the security forces injured a 13-year-old child in the leg with rubber bullets.”

Amnesty International wrote: “In al-Bayda, a protester and a bystander were killed on 16 February, a day prior to the planned “Day of Rage”, during a demonstration against the arrest of activists (see Chapter 1). The protester was Sa’ad Hamed Salah al-Yamani, a 20-year-old student. His father told Amnesty International: ‘He asked for me for permission to go to the peaceful demonstration. He went out at about 6.30pm and at about 7.45pm his best friend got a call to go to the hospital and when he went there he found Sa’ad dead.’ Sa’ad’s friend Hazem Ahmed Mohammed al-Faidi, who was with Sa’ad when he was killed and who was himself shot, told Amnesty International: ‘We went for a peaceful demonstration. We walked past the Commercial Bank, where the security forces threw tear gas, and went on to the ISA building to call for the release of the people arrested the previous day. We were outside the main door, at the back of ‘Uruba Street, by the market. They shot in the air from the guard room on the ground floor and then shot live bullets. I was shot in the right flank and in the right arm. Sa’ad was standing two or three metres from me and was shot immediately after me; he was shot in the face and collapsed. He died immediately.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Khanfar
22 years old male killed
Sa'ed Hamad Al Yamani
20 years old male killed
Anis Mistatari
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Khaled Khanfar and Sa'ed Hamad Al Yamani, allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces in Benghazi on February 15h, 2011 (via Walled Bin Amir)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Ouruba or Al Abraq street (شارع العروبة) in the city of  Al Bayda (البيضاء), 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.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Al Ouruba or Al Abraq street (شارع العروبة) in the city of  Al Bayda (البيضاء).

    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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ046

Incident date

June 4, 2017

Location

بنغازي‎, Omar al-Mukhtar mausoleum, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.119444, 20.067778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported airstrikes in multiple areas of Benghazi – including Sabri, the fish market area at the tomb of Omar al-Mukhtar, the municipal hotel, the Republic Hospital and the Al-Nuran Hotel.

According to a report in Akhbar Alaan, the LNA announced ten strikes on militants in the city.

Other sources put the number of strikes at 15. On Facebook, Thowrat reported that the strikes were Egyptian. According to Alwasat, “The commander of the Special Forces, Lt. Col. Mari al-Houti, said on Sunday that an intensive aerial bombardment for the second day in a row targeted the sites and gatherings of ‘terrorist organizations’ in the centre of Sabri and the centre of the fish market area in the eastern city of Benghazi.”

No monitored reports mentioned civilian casualties at the time.

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 attackers
    Libyan National Army, Egyptian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military 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 attackers
    Libyan National Army, Egyptian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC051

Incident date

December 2, 2016

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 December 2nd, Mohamed Lajnef posted pictures of two injured children on Facebook, saying they had been liberated from ISIS.

On December 5th Libya’s Channel reported Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous rescued over a hundred children and women from ISIS, some of the children severely injured. It showed pictures of two children: one is the same depicted in Mohamed Lajnef’s images.

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
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, US Forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A video shows civilians that have survived followed numerous of airstrikes in Sirte (Source: Libya's Channel)

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.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

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

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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, US Forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC030

Incident date

May 19, 2016

Location

الوشكة, Al-Wushka, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.371944, 15.567778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to various local sources a GNA/Misurata Air Force airstrike hit a car while targeting ISIS forces. Two members of the al-Mazoughi family, a man and his wife, were reportedly severely injured. The incident took place near the villages Al-Washka, Al-Qadihah and Zamzam.

In addition, ten ISIS members were reported killed in the strike, including Tunisian, Sudanese, Somali and Libyan citizens.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Government of National Accord
  • Suspected target
    ISIS - Libya

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage shows the moment GNA airforce conducted several airstrikes targeting ISIS convoy in Sirte (Source: GNA airforce media)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al-Wushka (الوشكة). The coordinates for Al-Wushka are: 31.371944, 15.567778.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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
    Government of National Accord
  • Suspected target
    ISIS - Libya

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ009a

Incident date

August 25, 2015

Location

درنة الفتايح, Derna: Al Fatayah, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.733611, 22.645278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported heavy LNA shelling on populated areas in Derna.

Mohamed Alshiki posted on Twitter: “Heavy shelling by the Libyan air force now by using warplanes and vertical combat

The shelling also included the valleys in Derna.”

Ramaa_el_gd reported, “bombing by Haftar which hit three residential neighbourhoods, led to burning farms and the some damaged houses.”

Solidarity for Human Rights posted a video of the event on Facebook saying: “Witness: The moment the air raid bombed the homes of residents of the city of Derna with an explosive barrel amid the panic of children.”

Libya in the heart reported strikes in the Al Fatayah area of the city.

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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: The bombing of the Haftar airliner that targeted three residential neighbourhoods led to the burning of farms and the injury of some Derna houses and three evil axes (Source: Ramaa_el_gd)
  • A video shows the moment followed an alleged LN airstrike carried out in Derna (Source: Libya Observer)
  • Translation: The Air Force targets the locations of Daesh by air strikes in the eastern Oqaba to the coast of the city of Derna just a while ago (Source: @mohamedalzober)

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
    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

LQ001

Incident date

October 4, 2014

Location

بنغازي‎, Bu Jazirah, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.168056, 20.131944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple local sources, airstrikes from an unknown belligerent reportedly hit Benghazi University and the February 17 camp targeting Ansar al-Sharia, which were described by some sources as “terrorist sites”.

Entisar Shinib reported that some civilians houses have affected by the strike, however, no civilian harms are reported.

There were no known reports of civilian casualties.

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
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the aftermath (via Afrigate News)
  • Picture of the aftermath (via Afrigate News)
  • Picture of the aftermath (via Afrigate News)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-062

Incident date

April 7, 2011

Location

اجدابيا, Ajdabiya, Al Wahat, Libya

Geolocation

30.760665, 20.220516 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 13 rebel fighters were reportedly killed either by a NATO airstrike in a friendly fire incident, or a Gaddafi regime strike, near Ajdabiya.

CNN posted on Twitter that “an airstrike killed at least three people.” The Telegraph showed a picture of three injured fighters. Meanwhile VOA said four rebels had been killed and 14 more wounded.

The BBC put the death toll at 13. It also mentioned that some rebels were contesting the strike was conducted by NATO: “Meanwhile, a different rebel spokesman said Thursday’s fatal air strike was carried out by pro-government forces rather than by Nato.

‘This was not a Nato air-strike; on the contrary, it was conducted by Gaddafi’s brigades using SIAI Marchetti SF-260 planes,’ Col Ahmad Bani told al-Arabiya television.”‘

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    NATO forces, Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–13
  • Belligerents reported injured
    14

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Picture of injured rebel fighters (via The Telegraph)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ajdabiya (اجدابيا), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.760665, 20.220516. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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
    NATO forces, Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–13
  • Belligerents reported injured
    14

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC171

Incident date

July 23, 2019

Location

سيدي السايح, Sidi as Sa'is, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.562667, 13.254399 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman and her child were allegedly injured in a GNA airstrike on Sidi as Sa’is.

Tripoli Al Izz reported: “The bombing of a military aircraft belonging to the GNA, hit a civilian house in the area of Sidi as Sa’is yesterday night, and wounded a child and a woman.”

Tarhuna 24 said: “GNA airstrikes hit a house in Sidi as Sa’is area, injuring a woman and her son from the Ahmad Al Sa’eh family.”

Hona Soq Al-Khmies Emsihel only reported GNA bombing but no civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    Government of National Accord

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the aftermath

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Sidi As Sais (سيدي السايح), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.562667, 13.254399. 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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    Government of National Accord

Sources (3) [ collapse]