Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
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Incident Code

LC151

Incident date

June 15, 2019

Location

مستشفى القلب تاجوراء, Tajoura Heart Hospital, Tripoli , Libya

Geolocation

32.877222, 13.396111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nine civilians were reported killed by LNA airstrikes on Tajoura, Tripoli, on June 15th.

Numerous sources initially cite the injuring of nine civilians in the airstrike, yet later sources, Business Standard and Xinhua, allege the death of nine civilians in the attack. Meanwhile, Athabat news state that nine civilians were wounded, and one killed in the airstrike.

Xinhua stated that of those killed, one was a child and two were women.

According to this source, “the air force of Libya’s eastern-based army on Saturday targeted a military store of the rival UN-backed government in the eastern part of the capital Tripoli, killing nine people and damaging a nearby hospital.”

Athabat News quoted Amin al-Hashimi, spokesman for the Ministry of Health in the National Reconciliation Government, stating that “the victims fell as a result of shrapnel scattered to a long distance,” also claiming that the camp that was targeted “was close to densely populated neighborhoods.”

Other sources reported the damaging of a hospital in the attack, with Libya Akhbar claiming that “the Tajoura heart hospital was severely damaged and that its windows were damaged by the bombing of the municipality.”

Business Standard stated that “fighting broke out between the LNA and GNA after Haftar’s forces launched an offensive in April to retake Tripoli. More than 90,000 people have been displaced ever since the fighting broke out, while over 650 people have lost their lives.”

An on-the-ground investigation by Amnesty International later concluded: “The apparent target was a GNA militia’s weapons depot in an adjacent compound, which was hit by another airstrike, causing a number of secondary explosions and a large fire. Fragments recovered by Amnesty International investigators at the scene of the strike on the civilian home confirm that the weapon was an unguided French SAMP 250kg bomb. This is a large explosive weapon, with a blast radius of over 600m, and therefore not an appropriate weapon to use in populated urban areas.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Marwa
24 years old female injured
Dhikra
21 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 9
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • The airstrike on Trajoura, Tripoli, on June 15th (via Hona Sog Al-Khmies Emsihel)
  • Image Caption Translation: "The head of the Crisis and Emergency Committee at the Ministry of Health of the Government of Al-Wefaq, Fawzi Onis, condemned the shelling of the municipality of Tajoura, which resulted in the injury of 9 wounded civilians in the area. Onis stressed that exposing civilians and hospitals to danger is a moral crime that violates all local and international laws and customs. He added that the Tajoura heart hospital was severely damaged and that its windows were damaged by the bombing of the municipality." (via Libyaakhbar News)
  • Caption translation: "9 civilians injured by the bombing of a military aircraft on the sites close to the Tatura heart hospital, according to the Ministry of Health Al-Wefaq, and also damaged the homes of civilians." (via Fada’eh lybia)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Tajoura Heart Hospital (مستشفى القلب تاجوراء), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.877222, 13.396111. 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 9
  • (1 child2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • 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

Lib2011-111

Incident date

June 19, 2011

Location

بيت علي مخر الغراري, House of Ali Mukhar Al Gharari, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.881658, 13.291822 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and nine civilians were reported killed in a NATO airstrike on Tripoli. NATO later acknowledged likely causing civilian harm in the event.

Amnesty gave a detailed account of the incident in its Libya investigation: “On 19 June 2011 at about 1.30 am the home of Mukhtar al-Gharari, located in a densely built-up area of the Souq al-Juma’a district of Tripoli, was struck, killing five family members and injuring eight others. Those killed are Mukhtar al-Gharari’s 48-year-old son Faraj; his 38-year-old daughter Karima; her 44-year-old husband ‘Abdallah Nimr Shihab; and their two children, Jomana and Khaled, aged two years and seven months respectively.

“Surviving members of the family told Amnesty International that 18 family members were sleeping in the house at the time of the attack and that those who were killed had been sleeping on the upper floor. In a letter to the UN International Commission of Inquiry on Libya (ICIL) of 23 January 2012, NATO referred to the above incident and acknowledged the possibility that ‘an errant weapon had caused such casualties.'”

Human Rights Watch also published a detailed investigation: “At around 1:15 a.m. on June 19, 2011, a NATO air strike hit the three-story home of the al-Gherari family, in a residential neighborhood of Souk al-Juma, one of Tripoli’s larger districts. The attack killed five people, according to witnesses and family members interviewed by Human Rights Watch, who provided photographs of the victims, as well as one death certificate and three burial permissions. At least eight people were also wounded, the family said.

Human Rights Watch visited the site in August and December of 2011 and did not see any evidence of military activity such as weapons, ammunition, or communications equipment which might have indicated the building was a legitimate military target, although such evidence could have been removed. The family and neighbors all said that no Gaddafi forces were operating from the area at the time of the attack.”

The BBC reported that “Libya has accused Nato of killing at least five people in an airstrike that hit a house in the capital Tripoli.”

The Straits Times posted on Twitter: “Nato says it ‘regrets’ its 1st civilian casualties in Libya after botched airstrike that killed 9, including 2 toddlers.”

According to CBS News, “Libya’s government said NATO warplanes struck a residential neighborhood in the capital Sunday and killed nine civilians, including two children, adding to its accusations that the alliance is striking nonmilitary targets.”

A video piece by BBC Arabic later said nine civilians were killed and 18 injured. And Al Jamal reported members of a Syrian family had been killed.

In August 2011, NATO conceded that it had likely harmed civilians in the attack, noting that: “The Tarabulus SA-2 Support Facility was an active military storage and support site directly supporting regime forces in the region with military equipment as well as efforts to reconstitute air defence capabilities throughout Libya. It was struck on three separate occasions, targeting at least ten separate buildings and bunkers. During the 19 June target engagement in question, the targeted structures were positively identified and two precision-guided weapons were dropped.

“The second of these two weapons appears to have malfunctioned due to laser guidance problems, its impact was not observed and NATO was not able to determine where it in fact landed. After reviewing the case, it was concluded that it was possible that the errant weapon had caused such casualties. A public statement was made at the time by the OUP commander acknowledging this possibility and expressing regret for any casualties that may have resulted. This incident is under further assessment.”

Airwars later contacted Mohammed Al-Gharari for an investigation: “In desperation, he eventually traveled to Brussels, home to NATO headquarters. He paid a Belgian lawyer thousands of euros in a futile attempt to find out what the alliance knew about his family’s tragedy—including which nation had killed them. The money is long gone, but that information remains classified. Yet as Weighill noted, the nation that conducted the strike which killed Gharari’s family had internally admitted, almost immediately, that the operation ‘didn’t go well.'”

The incident occured between 1:15 am and 1:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (12)

Faraj al-Gharari
48 years old male Son of Mukhtar al-Gharari killed
Karima al-Gharari
38 years old female Daughter of Mukhtar al-Gharari
Abdallah Nimr Shihab
44 years old male Husband of Karima al-Gharari killed
Jomana
2 years old female Grandchild of Son of Mukhtar al-Gharari killed
Khaled
1 years old male Grandchild of Son of Mukhtar al-Gharari killed
Mohammed Ali Al Ghrari
35 years old male injured
Amer Ali Al Ghrari
37 years old male injured
Mohammed Salem Al Ghrari
Adult male Husband of Kareema injured
Fatima Ali Al Turki
0 years old female injured
Sou’ad Ali Al Ghrari
0 years old female injured
Latifa Al Hadi Al Habashi
45 years old female injured
Zaytouna Mouhtar Karkam
42 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    18
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • BBC Arabic report on the incident
  • Mukhtar al-Gharari shows his home that was allegedly destroyed by a NATO airstrike on une 19th, 2011 (via Amnesty International)
  • Home allegedly destroyed by a NATO airstrike on une 19th, 2011 (via Amnesty International)
  • Home allegedly destroyed by a NATO airstrike on une 19th, 2011 (via Amnesty International)
  • Home allegedly destroyed by a NATO airstrike on une 19th, 2011 (via Mustafa Al Fetouri)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the house of Ali Mukhar Al Gharari (علي مخر الغراري) being struck, within the neighbourhood of Souq Al Juma ( سوق الجمعة ), the exact location of which has been published by Human Rights Watch. The coordinates are: 32.881658, 13.291822.

  • Reports of the incident mention the house of Ali Mukhar Al Gharari (علي مخر الغراري) being struck, within the neighbourhood of Souq Al Juma ( سوق الجمعة ), 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
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    Other
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

NATO forces
  • Aug 3, 2011

  • The Tarabulus SA-2 Support Facility was an active military storage and support site directly supporting regime forces in the region with military equipment as well as efforts to reconstitute air defence capabilities throughout Libya. It was struck on three separate occasions, targeting at least ten separate buildings and bunkers. During the 19 June target engagement in question, the targeted structures were positively identified and two precision-guided weapons were dropped. The second of these two weapons appears to have malfunctioned due to laser guidance problems, its impact was not observed and NATO was not able to determine where it in fact landed. After reviewing the case, it was concluded that it was possible that the errant weapon had caused such casualties. A public statement was made at the time by the OUP commander acknowledging this possibility and expressing regret for any casualties that may have resulted. This incident is under further assessment.

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Military Vehicle Storage Facility, 2 Surface-To-Air Missile Guidance Radars.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (2 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    18
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known targets
    Gaddafi forces, Other

Sources (26) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC042

Incident date

September 20, 2016

Location

مشروع نينا الزّراعي, Ninah Agricultural Project, Jufra, Libya

Geolocation

29.760503, 15.228767 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were reportedly killed in an airstrike in the vicinity of Ninah Agricultural Project near Sokna. Multiple outlets including the Libyan Observer reported seven dead and at least four wounded.

Alsdaa Alibya listed six women and one child among the victims, naming them in a Facebook post.

The sources claim that the strike came from a GNA affiliated militia, either Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous or Misurata Air Force.
UNSMIL later reported that it had “documented 7 deaths and 3 injured at a health spring water part… including 6 women and 1 girl killed.”

Libya Herald reported that “some of the victims were visitors from Mizdah.”

Libya Al-Mostakbal quoted Juffra Mayor Fuad Al-Mahdi Rashid in a press statement saying that “an unknown warplane bombarded a gathering of families near an area called Nina Al-Azari Project in the municipality of Jufra, killing 7 women and injuring three others.”

Other sources, such as Alhayat, reported nine civilians dead and 20 others wounded near Hun, which is close to Sokna, but didn’t specify further on the location.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Aisha Ali Abu-Qasim
Age unknown female Via Alsdaa Alibya killed
Zakia Mohammed Ali
Age unknown female Via Alsdaa Alibya killed
Khadija Al-Akoubi Ibrahim
Age unknown female Via Alsdaa Alibya killed
Suad Al-Mabrouk Massoud
Age unknown female Via Alsdaa Alibya killed
Thuhiba Mohammed Omar Balab
Age unknown female Via Alsdaa Alibya killed
Aqla Abdullah Masoud
Age unknown female Via Alsdaa Alibya killed
Suha Abdul Salam Karid
Child Via Alsdaa Alibya killed
Khiryia Abdullah Muhktar
Age unknown female Via Alsdaa Alibya injured
Ibrahi Azzidin
Child Via Alsdaa Alibya injured
Abdulsalam Atallah
Age unknown Via Alsdaa Alibya injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (1 child6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–20
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: This bombing of the aircraft of "Western European Misurata" on our people and this is the list of dead and wounded who died in the bombing of Nina near the city of Jafra (Source: @barga5050)
  • An image shows civilians bodies at the medical centre followed an alleged GNA airstrike on Jufra district (Source: Alwasat)
  • An image shows civilian car, attacked an alleged GNA airstrike on Jufra district (Source: Alwasat)
  • A video shows Al-Jafra tribes represented in the areas of Hoon, Ojla, Wadan, Zalah and al-Faqihah denounced the shelling of the Ninah agricultural project, which killed seven women and wounded six others, according to a statement issued by tribal representatives at the headquarters of the Hwanah tribe in Benghazi (Source: Libya Channel)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Ninah Agricultural Project (مشروع نينا الزّراعي), for which the generic coordinates are: 29.760503, 15.228767. 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 9
  • (1 child6 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–20
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC015

Incident date

March 24, 2015

Location

ام الرشراش, Umm Al Rashrash, Murqub, Libya

Geolocation

32.2891782, 13.6329552 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An LNA airstrike reportedly hit a Libya Dawn camp in Tarhuna. While most sources reported no civilians and only a few Libya Dawn fighters dead, two sources said that eight internally displaced Tawergha were killed in the attack.

Middle East Eye quoted a Libya Dawn spokesperson: “Eight Libyan civilians died in the strike. Sadly this is their strategy, to kill civilians and claim to the international community that they are after weapons.”

According to Akhbar, a refugee camp was struck and not a weapons depot. The source reported that “a plane of Libyan-backed forces loyal to the Libyan government launched a raid on the town of Tarhouna near Tripoli, which it said targeted a weapons depot. But but the controlling government in the capital said it had hit a refugee camp and killed eight civilians.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Dozens of people were killed after the air force bombed the sites of Dawn of Libya in Tarhona (Source: @wady_dynar)
  • Translation: # Libya: Two people killed in aerial bombardment of aircraft # Haftar on the town of Tarhona southeast of # Tripoli (Source: @almokhtsar)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an airstrike targeting the Umm Al Rashrash (ام الرشراش)  area south of Tarhuna (ترهونة), Libya, for which the generic coordinates are: 32.2891782, 13.6329552. Based on the limited information and satellite imagery 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
    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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-130

Incident date

July 25, 2011

Location

زليتن, Zliten, Murqub, Libya

Geolocation

32.466659, 14.566591 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and eight civilians were reportedly killed in a NATO airstrike on Zliten.

Antiwar wrote: “A NATO airstrike killed seven people in a hospital in Zlitan, western Libya, on Monday, according to locals and government officials. Medical equipment was visible among the twisted wreckage of the building, the Associated Press reports, after being taken on a government tour of the site.” It added that “the dead included three doctors.”

Al Jazeera said: “Libyan officials have accused NATO of killing at least eight people in an air raid on a food warehouse and medical clinic in Zlitan, east of Tripoli.

Foreign journalists taken to the town of Zlitan on Monday were unable to verify if it was a NATO operation.”

CNN later reported on the incident: “Government officials said they were looking for the bodies of three people believed to be buried underneath, and said the bodies of eight people had been pulled out earlier in the day. Journalists did not see any evidence of dead or wounded at the site.”

It also published the NATO perspective on the incident: “Responding to the Libyan government’s claims to journalists that a health clinic and food-storage facility had been hit, NATO had found no evidence to support the allegations, a NATO representative said.”

In its daily operational report NATO said it struck “3 Command and Control Node, 1 Military Armoured Vehicle Storage Facility, 2 Armed Vehicles” without mentioning civilian harm.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • 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 target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a hospital in the vicinity of Zliten (زليتن), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.466659, 14.566591. 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 the vicinity of Zlitan: 3 Command and Control Node, 1 Military Armoured Vehicle Storage Facility, 2 Armed Vehicles.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • 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 target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC026

Incident date

March 9, 2016

Location

الزعفران, Zaafran, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.207222, 16.550278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two female children and their mother from Hamad Hamed Al-Sayah Hambali were among up to eight victims who died in airstrikes on the area of Zafaran and the power station in Sirte, local media reported. The daughters were named as Isra and Wafaa.

According to Mahmoud Mohamed Salem on March 9th, “there were frequent reports of aircraft hitting civilian targets in the city of Sirte, the latest of which was this morning. The house of Hamed Hamed Al-Hiyal Al-Hamali was attacked in the city of Sirte near the water station and the buildings of the water and electricity company, 7 km west of Sirte. Sources said that the family lost two of its daughters and the mother is still in the intensive care room.”

However other sources including Seda Libya and Ali Alkasih reported that the mother was also killed.

One source, Fazan News Agency, put the death toll as high as eight.

Libya Now also reported that there had been deaths as a result of a bombing in the Zafaran area, though it didn’t provide casualty figures.

On November 22nd, Airwars contacted Ahmed Hamid al-Sayah, the father of the victims who is based in Egypt. He confirmed the death of his two daughters and his son and daughter being injured in the incident. He provided several documents including images and hospital reports. The father claims the GNA conducted the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Wafa Ahmed Hamid Al-Sayah
Child female Via the victim family killed
Isra Ahmed Hamed Al-Sayah
Child female Via the victim family killed
Hamid Ahmed Al-Sayah
Child male Via the victim family injured
Sister of Hamid Al-Sayah
Adult female Via the victim family injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (2 children)
  • 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
    Other

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The children Isra and Wafaa killed in an airstrike on Sirte, March 9th (via Khaled Alkhwaildi)
  • An image showing the victims' house in Sirte (via the victims' family)
  • An image showing the victims' house in Sirte (via the victims' family)
  • An image showing the victims' house in Sirte (via the victims' family)
  • An image shows the victims house in Sirte city following by an unknown airstrike which led to killing two little girls and injured one child and an adult woman (source: the victim family)
  • An image showing the victims' house in Sirte (via the victims' family)
  • An image showing the victims' house in Sirte (via the victims' family)
  • An image showing the victims' house in Sirte (via the victims' family)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image showing Hamid Ahmed al-Sayah, allegedly injured in the incident (via the victim's family)
  • An image shows the death certificate of the Esra al-Syah, killed followed an unknown airstrike on her house (via victim's family)
  • An image shows the death certificate of the Wafa al-Syah, killed followed an unknown airstrike on her house (via victim's family)
  • A picture shows Hamid's sister hospital report who was injured following an unknown airstrike on her house in Sirte (via victim's family)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the neighbourhood of Zafraan (الزعفران). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Zaafran are: 31.207222 16.550278.

  • Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the neighbourhood of Zafraan (الزعفران).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (2 children)
  • 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
    Other

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC187a

Incident date

August 31, 2019

Location

مرزق, Murzuq, Libya

Geolocation

25.919023, 13.923895 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and eight civilians were allegedly killed in an LNA airstrike on Murzuq.

The Libya Observer reported: “The member of Murzuq municipality Mohammed Omar said a warplane for Khalifa Haftar’s forces struck Saturday afternoon Murzuq in southern Libya twice.

Omar told the German news agency that between six and eight people had been killed in airstrikes on eastern part of the town – Anti-Desertification Project – near the meteorology building where many houses are located.”

There is currently no more information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Murzuq (مرزق), for which the generic coordinates are: 25.919023, 13.923895. 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC017a

Incident date

May 14, 2015

Location

السلام, Al Salam, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.125758, 20.098082 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and eight people, most of them children were reported killed in an LNA airstrike on the Al Salam neighbourhood of Benghazi.

Alwasat News wrote: “Eight people were killed, including seven children, when a rocket hit a residential area in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Thursday (May 14, 2015), a Reuters reporter saw several bodies of children in a hospital in Benghazi, Libya’s second largest city.”

Belreish provided a lower number of casualties and posted images of the victims: “Six children and a 25-year-old man were killed by shelling of the Al-Salam neighbourhood.”

AlmustaqbalNP agreed with the number from Alwasat saying: “Reuters”: 8 killed, including 7 children in a missile strike in the Libyan city of Benghazi.”

Other sources reported airstrikes around Benghazi but didn’t mention civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (6–7 children1 man)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Salam (السلام), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.125758, 20.098082. 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 Al Salam (السلام).

    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
    7 – 8
  • (6–7 children1 man)
  • 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]