Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

Lib2011-077

Incident date

April 25, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.374457, 15.087794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 25th, 2011, Gaddafi forces shelled Misurata at dawn, firing over 40 rockets.

Al Jazeera reported that 12 civilians were killed in the attack and a further 57 injured , according to a rebel spokesman.

Airwars has to date been unable to identify additional sources in relation to this event.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    57
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misurata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.374457, 15.087794. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    57
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-157

Incident date

September 6, 2011

Location

Libya

Airwars assessment

A single source reported one potential civilian death from a Rebel forces or NATO action in Libya.

Nour Al Din Nasser Al Zanki said that “Sada Moftah Attaf, 26 years old, was killed” on September 6th.

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

26 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan rebel forces, NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

No geolocation information available.

Libyan rebel forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Libyan rebel forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan rebel forces, NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-022

Incident date

February 25, 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

On February 25th, 2011, five civilians were reported killed and between 12 and 24 injured as a result of Gaddafi forces in Tripoli. @Globe_info reported the casualties on Twitter.

@Globe_info states “The Zawia Street Hospital in Tripoli is now receiving five martyrs and dozens of wounded, some of them in danger.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.886602, 13.190912. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-209

Incident date

October 25, 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

Two men died on October 25, 2011 after being detained in rebel custody in Tripoli on October 25, 2011 according to the UN Report Source Page 81.

One man, a member of Gaddafi’s security forces, was arrested by the rebels on September 11, 2011 and held in the former Internal Security Agency building in central Tripoli. His family received a call from a Tripoli hospital and when they arrived he was dead, with the cause of death being heart and kidney failure triggered by beatings and videos show that the victim had severe bruising, missing flesh, whip marks, and open wounds.

Another man died from torture 10 days after he was arrested without a warrant or cause by rebels in his neighborhood. The autopsy showed that his death was the result of severe beatings all over his body.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men1 other protected person)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.886602, 13.190912. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men1 other protected person)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC094

Incident date

September 22, 2018

Location

شرفة الملاحة, Shurfat Al Malaha, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.881854, 13.256303 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported injured due to indiscriminate artillery shelling near the Airport road in Tripoli.

Libya Akhbar wrote: “The spokesman for the ambulance and emergency agency, Osama Ali, reported the injury of a civilian as a result of random shelling on the market Friday morning.

Ali said in a statement on Saturday, that nearly five shells fell on the Hey Shurfa Al Milaha neighbourhood at the entrance to the market Friday, which led to material damage.”

Riyadh Burshan and Libya Alahrar published carbon copies of the report.

Local reports point at the 7th Brigade or GNA-affiliated militias as the belligerent.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Shurfat Al Malaha (شرفة الملاحة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.881854, 13.256303. 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 Shurfat Al Malaha (شرفة الملاحة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ056

Incident date

August 21, 2017

Location

الحدود الليبية المصرية, Libyan-Egyptian border, Butnan, Libya

Geolocation

29.3223255, 24.7302246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Egyptian warplanes targeted nine SUVs that were claimed to be carrying weapons and explosives at the Libyan border.

On its own Facebook page, the Egyptian military noted that “Today 21 August 2017 … the Egyptian Air Force destroyed 9 cars with arms, ammunition and explosives on the western border with Libya.”

There are no known public reports of civilian harm.

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
    Egyptian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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 attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC037

Incident date

August 2, 2016

Location

السيدة خديجة, Sayeda Khadija, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.78583, 22.5725 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured when the LNA bombed an ammunition depot in Derna, according to local sources.

Ean Libya reported that two civilians were wounded – and two houses destroyed – in airstrikes in Derna.

Almmlka reported that the LNA targeted weapons caches and that the attack also injured civilians. It named the injured as “Al-Qarduh and the child of Mohammed al-Mansouri.”

Yon news also reported that the bombing hit an ammunition depot that held other weapons, possibly leading to secondary explosions.

The outlet News 24 placed the incident in the Sayeda neighbourhood of Derna.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

24 years old male Via news 24 injured
6 years old male Via news 24 injured

Summary

  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: An official in Shura Derna council media Mohammed al-Mansouri: 7 civilians were inured followed Al Karma airstrike on Khadija neighbourhood (Source: Libya Al Ahrar TV)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Sayeda Khadija (السيدة خديجة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.78583, 22.5725. 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 Sayeda Khadija (السيدة خديجة).

    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
    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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC011

Incident date

January 3, 2015

Location

مصراتة: مصراتة ميناء, Misurata Port, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.3610975, 15.2204999 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to various sources, LNA jets struck different positions in Misurata’s port, resulting in the injury of two civilians – reportedly employees at the port.

Al Jazeera reported: The forces of the retired Libyan brigade General, Khalifa Haftar, announced responsibility for air strikes on the western port of Misurata on Saturday claiming that it was used for ‘terrorist purposes. We have repeated more than once that if the port of Misurata becomes a danger, we will shell it, said the spokesman of the Hafar forces. On Saturday, the air force struck the port because of its use of transporting weapons, ammunition and terrorist elements.

Reuters, Al Wasat and Al Nabaa reported that two port employees were injured, while other sources mentioned no civilian casualties or injuries but “heavy losses” for the Libya Dawn militia.

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

Summary

  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A TV report on airstrikes targeted Misurata city - Translation: Two airstrikes targeted Misrata city, one in the morning and one an hour ago targeted the port which resulted in injured two workers (Source: Al Nabaa TV)
  • Translation: LNA air forces targeted a warehouse of weapons in Emara Misrata at the airport without any casualties occurred (source: Noman Benotman)
  • Another picture of the warehouse (via Noman Benotman)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an airstrike targeting Misurata Port (ميناء مصراتة). After investigating visual evidence from sources, we narrowed down this location to the southwestern edge of a warehouse on a pier at Misurata Port, the exact coordinates for which are: 32.3610975, 15.2204999.

  • Photo from scene of airstrike

    Imagery:
    Witness

  • Photo from scene of airstrike. The features marked by tags F and G intersect behind the silver car.

    Imagery:
    Witness

  • Satellite imagery showing distribution of features tagged in photos from scene of airstrike.

    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
    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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]