All Belligerents in Libya, 2011

Mourners in Majer, Libya in 2011 following a NATO airstrike which killed at least 34 civilians, according to multiple reports. Image courtesy of Sidney Kwiram/ Human Rights Watch

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

Incident Code

LQ066

Incident date

May 18, 2018

Location

درنة, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.75591, 22.637772 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various local sources reported joint airstrikes by the LNA and an unknown pro-LNA actor on Derna.

Alnabaa TV reported: “The correspondent added, Friday, that a random shell fell on the central district of the city, causing damage to buildings without causing civilian harm.”

Libya 24 TV reported that an ammunition store was destroyed in the strikes.

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
    Unknown, Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC080

Incident date

May 15, 2018

Location

الكفرة, Kufra, Libya

Geolocation

24.186944, 23.268056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three Eritrean citizens were reportedly killed in an airstrike in Kufra city and eight more Eritrean asylum seekers wounded in an airstrike in Kufra city near Abdulmalik mountain close to the Egyptian border, according to Vincent Cochetel, Special Envoy of the UNHCR for the Central Mediterranean situation.

Jamal Adel said on Twitter the strike was presumably conducted by Egypt.

Libya’s Channel reported on the incident and showed footage of the victims being treated at the hospital: “The immigration office in Kufra has received a report of an airstrike in the evening in the West of the city targeting a vehicle that was loaded with immigrants from different nations. They have been taken to the city hospital to be treated with the help of the Libyan Red Crescent al Kufra branch who provide the medical treatment, medicine and other humanitarian assistance.” It further quoted the Red Crescent: “We received a call from the hospital that eight people were severely injured. We are unable to treat them here due to the lack of facilities. This sort of injuries require advanced equipment and a specialist team.”

Libya’s Channel published a similar report in writing on their website of which various outlets published carbon copies.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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
    Egyptian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Kufra (الكفرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 24.186944, 23.268056. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    8
  • 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
    Egyptian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC079

Incident date

March 6, 2018

Location

سبها‎, Sabha, Libya

Geolocation

27.038804, 14.426567 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were killed and at least 10 more wounded by shrapnel resulting from LNA fighting a Tebu militia in Sebha, according to local reports.

Fezzan Libya, citing the Sebha Medical Centre, reported that 3 people were killed – including one child – and 12 were injured – including 3 children – as a result of clashes that morning in Sebha.

@abou3m3mma reported the name of a six-year-old girl, “Saida Omar Sallouh” who it said had been killed by shrapnel and said that ten people had been additionally wounded. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Saida Omar Sallouh
6 years old male Via @abou3m3mma killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sabha (سبها‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 27.038804, 14.426567. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–12
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC078

Incident date

March 4, 2018

Location

الزنتان, Al Zintan, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.75591, 22.637772 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and five civilians were reportedly injured in what was described as indiscriminate LNA artillery shelling on the Al-Zintan neighbourhood in western Derna.

@Abo_moslem4036 reported a “random bombardment” at the west of the entrance to the Darna al-Zintan neighbourhood, which injured three women, a child and a man.

@deskdrnoe cited the LNA for bombing a residential area.

Libya Observer said the four civilians were injured by “heavy artillery shelling” by fighters loyal to Haftar. Citing local authorities, the Observer said that a “wife and a husband, as well as their daughter”, were injured.

Libya al Akhbar reported that three civilians were injured “in an artillery attack carried out by gunmen” loyal to the LNA. The report said the artillery had his Al-Zintan neighbourhood, and that one of the shells directly hit the house of Jamal al-Kubailit, which led the injury of his wife and daughter.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Zintan (الزنتان), allegedly located in the western entrance of Derna (درنة) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Derna are: 32.75591, 22.637772.

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
    3–5
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC077

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

سبها‎, Sabha, Libya

Geolocation

27.038804, 14.426567 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least six civilians were killed in Sabha during fighting between rival armed groups, Reuters reported.

Reuters reported that LNA and rival groups fought in the vicinity of Sabha, leading to the deaths of at least six civilians. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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 city of Sabha (سبها‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 27.038804, 14.426567. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC076

Incident date

January 7, 2018

Location

South of Sirte, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

30.431401, 16.544536 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two decomposed bodies were found in a vehicle, reportedly victims of an earlier airstrike.

Qnat Aljamahiriya reported that two decomposed bodies were found by camel breeders. The bodies were in a four-wheel drive video, which had evidently been targeted in the “desert southwest of Sirte.” Based on the report, it appeared the men had died weeks earlier.

Several other sources, including Sebha now and Abdalslam Farag Almahde, reported identical language.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck south of Sirte (سرت), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.431401, 16.544536. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ064

Incident date

December 28, 2017

Location

بنغازي‎, Sidi Kharibesh, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.125, 20.063889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several sources reported airstrikes on Sidi Akhrebish by either LNA, Egypt or UAE. One source claims Egyptian F-16s or Rafales were involved.

However, some local sources described what they said was “Indiscriminate shelling by heavy weapons on the area of Akhrebish this day by the LNA militia.” And Libya Today TV noted what it said was the “destruction of infrastructure and public and private property of citizens.”

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
    Egyptian Military, Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

United Arab Emirates Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United Arab Emirates Military
  • United Arab Emirates Military 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
    Egyptian Military, Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ063

Incident date

December 10, 2017

Location

بنغازي‎, Municipal hotel, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.123611, 20.070833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilian infrastructure in Benghazi was targeted by LNA strikes, according to local sources
Libya Today TV reported that an LNA strike in central Benghazi – in the Akhribesh area – resulted in the destruction of “infrastructure and public and private property of citizens.”

Ayon Benghazi reported strikes in the vicinity of a hotel, and several other outlets reported strikes in Akhribesh.

At the moment there are no monitored 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (5) [ collapse]