Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LC046

Incident date

October 20, 2016

Location

الجيزة, Giza, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.209315, 16.596694 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 21st Ahmed El Sharkawy claimed that the bodies of children and women were trapped under rubble in Giza but didn’t say what the reason for the destruction was.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, US Forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Giza (الجيزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.209315, 16.596694. 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 Giza (الجيزة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, US Forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC047

Incident date

October 24, 2016

Location

الجيزة, Giza, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.209315, 16.596694 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The US conducted four airstrikes in the Giza neighbourhood in Sirte. One source on Facebook mentioned that Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous soldiers found seven dead bodies of civilians in a house. The bodies were apparently charred.

According to Madridi Aween, “Our rebels found a number of bodies in several houses in the camp during a search by the Military Engineering forces. They found seven bodies in a house, some of them charred”.

However, the combatant status of the victims was unclear.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Giza (الجيزة), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.209315, 16.596694. 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 Giza (الجيزة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ037

Incident date

October 28, 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

Libya’s Channel and Libya Akhbar reported on October 28th that ISIS was using civilians as human shields and that the evacuation of civilians was causing delay to the GNA campaign.

The outlets both referred to Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous spokesman Rida Issa: “A member of the media centre of the Chamber of Operation, Rida Issa, said that the delay was due to of the presence of civilians in the areas of engagement, especially after the forces saved dozens of civilians, including women and children, in the past days.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, US Forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

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
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, US Forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC048

Incident date

November 12, 2016

Location

قنفودة, Ganfouda, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.028594, 20.026959 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man was killed and three of his daughters injured in an airstrike – with some reports suggested two were in fact killed.

Ean Libya reported the death of a man and the wounding of two children when airstrikes hit the Ganfouda area of Benghazi. It reported that the voices of two girls could be heard in the rubble.

Benghazi Post posted a disturbing photo on Twitter of a girl badly burned, reporting that her father was killed and her sisters still were under the rubble.

Emirate affairs reported that UAE warplanes had bombed Ganfouda, “resulting in the deaths of many civilians.” It said, “some civilian children were killed in the strike.”

A Chadian and an Egyptian worker were killed in a UAE drone strike and an LNA strike, according to Saraya Media Center who posted pictures of the two victims on its Telegram channel.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    United Arab Emirates Military, Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: Burned, killed her father and sisters under the rubble! Oh God, you see the weakness of our situation and our weakness on people (Source: @benghazip)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A screenshot of the Saraya Media Center post on Telegram
  • Saraya Media center interviews Fathia who was badly injured in the strike

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Ganfouda (قنفودة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.028594, 20.026959. 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 Ganfouda (قنفودة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

United Arab Emirates Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United Arab Emirates Military
  • United Arab Emirates 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    United Arab Emirates Military, Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC049

Incident date

November 14, 2016

Location

قرضة, Qaradah, Wadi al Shatii, Libya

Geolocation

27.544167, 13.629444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

France allegedly conducted airstrikes in Qaradah north of Sabha which killed Al Qaeda leader Abdul Muneim al-Hasnawi, also known as Abu Talha al-Libi and six other members of the organisation.

The mayor of the city, Hassen Matoug, contested the events on Facebook and claimed that up to eight civilians were killed in the attack. He named two of them as Ghaweel and Hamad al-Ghawail and mentioned a Palestinian woman and her son as being killed in the attack as well.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

A Palestinian woman
female killed
The son of the Palestinian woman
Adult male killed

The victims were named as:

Ghaweel
Age unknown killed
Hamad al-Ghawail
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    French Military

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Mohammed Qureysh shows the aftermath of the airstrike
  • Qaradah municipality gives a statement on the strike
  • France 24 reports on the airstrike
  • An image shows the targeted house which suspected where Abu Talha lives (via Alwasat)
  • Translation: the initial pictures that show the result of the airstrike on the civilian house in Gorda (Source: Libya Al Ahrar TV)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Qaradah (قرضة), for which the generic coordinates are: 27.544167, 13.629444. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

French Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    French Military

Sources (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC050

Incident date

November 15, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Ganfouda, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.028594, 20.026959 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight prisoners were reported killed following LNA airstrikes on Benghazi.

The LNA self-reported airstrikes in the following locations:

“A MiG-23ML and a Mig23BN reportedly targeted the vehicles and fighters of alleged terrorist groups while trying to escape from the Qawarsheh area to Qanfouda after the siege on, reportedly leading to their destruction.

A MiG-21 reportedly targeted fighters and vehicles in the fish market area.

The helicopters reportedly intensified their reconnaissance and combat missions in Qawarsheh area and Qanfouda, which destroyed a number of observatories, fighters and vehicles.”

However the Benghazi Shura Council later released a statement saying that eight prisoners detained by its forces were killed in an airstrike in an area under their control.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male Via Mohamed Bo Shoqma killed
Age unknown male Via Mohamed Bo Shoqma killed
Age unknown male Via Mohamed Bo Shoqma killed
Age unknown male Via Mohamed Bo Shoqma killed
Age unknown male Via Mohamed Bo Shoqma killed
Age unknown male Via Mohamed Bo Shoqma killed
Age unknown male Via Mohamed Bo Shoqma killed
Age unknown male Via Mohamed Bo Shoqma killed

Summary

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: a list of prisiners names that killed by air strike (Source: Mohamed Abu Shaqma)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Ganfouda (قنفودة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.028594 20.026959. 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
    8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ037a

Incident date

November 18, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Airwars assessment

Saraya Media posted a video of what it describes as a Air Tractor 802U targeting a residential neighbourhood in Ganfouda.

Alnabaa reported 40 LNA airstrikes on Ganfouda as well as a UAE drone flying in the area without engaging in the strikes.

Other sources also reported LNA strikes in Ganfouda.

The alleged terrorist Siraj Alkerkna, nickmane “Haroun Al Dernawi” was killed in the strike, according to Rjaonkey_mhamad.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (6) [ 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ 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]