Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LC144

Incident date

May 23, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli: Airport road, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.806027, 13.139814 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and wwo health workers were killed in an LNA airstrike on Tripoli.

The FMSC said: “The Field Medicine and Support Center is deeply saddened by the death of our colleague Dr. Rami Abdulrazzaq Shawia of the field hospital, Zahra, after being hit by a guided missile in the ambulance.”

Other sources also reported one death. Libya Alahrar TV said the LNA was responsible.

United Nations Libya tweeted: “2 more health workers killed yesterday in Tripoli, Libya.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dr. Rami Abdulrazzaq Shawia
Adult male Health worker killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • Dr. Rami Abdulrazzaq Shawia (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • Statement by the FMSC
  • Statement by the Ministry of Health

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the road leading to the airport in Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.806027, 13.139814. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the road leading to the airport in Tripoli (طرابلس‎).

    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
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • 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

LC143

Incident date

May 16, 2019

Location

بو غيلان, Bu Gheilan, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

32.256538, 13.039711 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family was reportedly injured in a GNA airstrike on Bu Gheilan.

Tripoli Now said: “A family was injured in Bu Gheilan, Gheryan area, as a result of aerial bombardment by a Misurata aircraft.”

The is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Bu Gheilan (بو غيلان), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.256538, 13.039711. 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC141

Incident date

May 15, 2019

Location

القواسم, Qawasim, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

32.214378, 13.042078 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reported killed by a GNA airstrike in Qawasim.

Ghada Elmehdwi reported: “Misrata targets civilians in Gheryan – Qawasim and victims occurred.”

Other sources did not mention civilian harm but the targeting of civilian homes. Wadi Dinar News Agency said that the houses of Sami and Ramzi Al Muntaser were damaged and posted pictures of them.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the aftermath

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Qawasim (القواسم), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.214378, 13.042078. 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
    2 – 3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC142

Incident date

May 15, 2019

Location

جامع علي بن ابي طالب, Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.767579, 13.096423 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three people were injured in a GNA artillery strike on Qasr Bin Gashir.

Tripoli Now said they were injured when a shell fell on the Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque.

Tk yhrog kl shy2 published a similar report and uploaded a video of the damage at the building.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Video of the damage to the mosque

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Ali Bin Abi Talib Mosuqe (جامع علي بن ابي طالب) being struck, for which the generic coordinates are: 32.767579, 13.096423. 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC140

Incident date

May 14, 2019

Location

الملجأ, Almalja, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.68869, 13.174971 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians were reported killed by indiscriminate shelling on Qasr Bin Gashir, likely conducted by the GNA.

The General Command of the Libyan Armed Forces showed the image of an injured child.

Qasr Bin Gashir Official reported the death of Ahmed al-Mazougi.

Qalam Rasas said: “The death toll has risen to 6, including a woman, a baby and a 7-year-old girl. Rocket attacks on the militias of the Sarraj government targeted their homes in the area of Qasr Bin Ghashir south of the capital Tripoli.”

Almarsad published a more detailed summary of events: “The number of people killed in a rocket attack of GNA forces in the Qasr Bin Gashir area, has risen to six civilians, including infant and a seven-year-old girl from the Faraj Beshish family.

Residents of the neighborhood told them that at least three rockets landed on the densely populated “Al Malja neighborhood ” in the Qasr Bin Gashir municipality. Ahmed Fathi al-Hadi al-Mazouji and his mother, a eight-month pregnant woman, Hanan, and four others were injured. Including his brother and sister.

One of the rockets targeted the house of Hammadi al-Tarhouni, wounding a housewife called ‘Aisha’, an elderly woman who was seriously wounded. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition, and a fire broke out in the two houses. Faraj Bishish accompanied her pregnant mother as shown in this video clip just before inside the hospital.

In the same area, another missile hit cars parked in front of houses in the same neighborhood, causing the fire to erupt as people tried to control the fire.”

An on-the-ground investigation by Amnesty International later concluded: Fragments recovered at the scene confirm that heavy artillery projectiles were used in this attack. As even modern artillery has a circular error probable (CEP) of at least 100 meters at the weapon’s typically employed range, this weapon is not appropriate for use in dense urban environments. The site of the strike was over two kilometres behind the front line, and no military target was visible on satellite imagery of the time. Direct attacks targeting civilians may constitute war crimes.

The incident occured at 00:15:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed al-Mazougi
Child male killed
Ahmed Fathi al-Hadi al-Mazouji
Age unknown male injured
Aisha
Adult female Housewife injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed al-Mazougi, supposedly killed in the incident
  • Another picture of Ahmed al-Mazougi and more photos from the aftermath of the attack
  • Pictures of the victims in the second tweet

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Almalja (الملجأ), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.68869, 13.174971. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Almalja (الملجأ).

    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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC139

Incident date

May 13, 2019

Location

الزاوية‎, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.759709, 12.732495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Civilians were reported killed and injured in an LNA airstrike on Zawiya.

Riyadh Burshan said that there were “reports of civilian casualties and injuries” because of “Aerial bombardment of the town of Zawiya” but did not specify how many.

Other sources only reported LNA bombarment and showed pictures of damaged buildings and cars. Most of them said that the Faruq militia was targeted.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the alleged strike
  • Pictures of the alleged aftermath
  • Video showing the aftermath of the strike

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Zawiya (الزاوية‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.759709, 12.732495. 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
    2 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC137a

Incident date

May 12, 2019

Location

الجفينة, Al Jafina, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.824722, 13.482222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was reportedly killed and her two children injured by LNA shelling on Tripoli.

Riyadh Burshan said two civilians were injured in the incident.

Al Jazeera posted on Twitter: “A woman and her two children were injured when shells fell on Al-Jafina neighborhood southeast of Tajoura, east of the Libyan capital.”

Libya Alahrar published a similar entry and said the mayor of Tajoura confirmed the injuries.

Pen Libya said that the mother of the Al Khalqi family died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Awatif al-Khaliqi
Adult female Mother killed
Mohammed
Child male Son injured
Obaidah
male Son injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Video showing one of the children allegedly injured in the attack
  • Another video of the child
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More picturs of the incident

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Jafina (الجفينة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.824722, 13.482222. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC138

Incident date

May 12, 2019

Location

ناصر, Naser, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.432880, 12.657010 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three civilians were allegedly killed in an airstrike on Naser. Different sources accused the LNA, UAE or Egypt.

Ibrahim Kasuda said: “The UAE assault plane targets a citizen’s car in the village of Naser in the south of Zawiya, killing all in the car and the supporters of Haftar describe it as an ammunition truck.”

Mona Al-Hur accused the UAE and Egypt of conducting the strike, also saying everyone in the car was killed without giving a number of casualties.

Asstor wrote: “An airstrike carried out by Haftar aircraft targeting small civilian vehicles claiming to carry weapons and ammunition in the area south of the city of Zawiya, killing three people and wounding two which are in serious condition.”

Anis Abdalgawad and Son of Libya Sartawi said the car was in fact an ammunition truck. Tak.yuharq.kl.shy added that one of the victims was Abdulmajid Bin Koura, supposedly an arms dealer with a criminal record.

Libyan citizen later said on Twitter that Ahmad Aldabbashi, an alleged human trafficker and oil smuggler, was killed in the strike as well.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdulmajid Bin Koura
Adult male killed
Ahmad Aldabbashi
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, Unknown, Egyptian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the aftermath
  • Pictures of Abdulmajid Bin Koura, supposedly killed in the event
  • Video of the alleged aftermath
  • Picture of Ahmad Aldabbashi

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Naser (ناصر), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.43288, 12.65701. 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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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
    3
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, Unknown, Egyptian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]