Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LC052

Incident date

December 5, 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

Campaign overview: The United States began a major air campaign in support of and at the request of GNA ground forces, to oust ISIS from the city of Sirte.

Complete official records of the US campaign at Sirte – which saw 497 airstrikes on the city to December 5th 2016 – can be found here.

Individual civilian harm allegations are dispersed across the following months.

Overall reported civilian harm for the Sirte campaign: During the 2016 joint US/GNA Sirte campaign, reporting on civilian casualties was extremely scarce, as the GNA/Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous forces had cut most forms of communication coming from the city while advancing. Single sources occasionally reported civilian harm – but often neither clearly identified the date nor the belligerent for an event, making it hard to clarify whether the US, GNA or ISIS was responsible for the civilian harm.

On November 11th 2016, France 24 quoted Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous spokesman Rida Issa saying: “The subject of civilians is also very dangerous, our fighters hear their screams from houses whenever there is shelling, we do not know their numbers, but they are prevented from leaving, so the remaining area must be treated with great caution.”

On December 16th, Elkul reported on Facebook that the Misurata Central hospital had received 47 injured children and 16 injured women during the whole campaign. He added that 720 GNA fighters were killed and 3,200 injured.

On December 21st MC Doualiya reported that “dozens of bodies are still under the rubble, the smell is very foul and it is feared that it will cause diseases such as plague,” quoting a local citizen, “they were trapped in the rubble. There are terrorists, but also women and children who died of hunger and thirst under the rubble.”

In July 2017 Al Aan TV showed images of refrigerators allegedly containing the bodies of civilians, including women and children, and ISIS fighters killed in the Sirte campaign, estimating them at “hundreds.” Many families reportedly refused to take the bodies of their relatives.

Other sources such as Al Jazeera or Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous also confirmed that bodies of fighters were still under the rubble.
Aghad TV showed images of civilians, including children, being rescued from the rubble of collapsed buildings. The report says that 230 bodies of dead fighters were uncovered in the Giza neighbourhood but didn’t elaborate on numbers of civilian casualties.

Afrigate News published a report on September 11th 2017 on the fate of the families of ISIS fighters where it mentioned that eleven bodies of civilians were uncovered from the rubble and 50 people were severely injured.

Note: individual Sirte civilian casualty events are reported on by date where known 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30 – 50
  • Civilians reported injured
    63
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Al Aan TV interviewing a woman from Sirte stating that ISIS used civilians as human shields
  • Fatima Troy recounts details of the last days of the Sirte campaign and said that civilians were trying to flee the city
  • Al Aan TV investigates the fate of the bodies of civilians and ISIS fighters in Sirte
  • Images: Alghad TV

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
    30 – 50
  • Civilians reported injured
    63
  • 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 (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC053

Incident date

December 8, 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

Various local sources reported that Hanan bin Sirteya Gaddafi, a dermatologist from Sirte, was killed in an airstrike in a house in the Giza district in Sirte.

Alwasat and Rihab News claimed that she and her husband, Osama Shuaib Zayani, joined ISIS once it took over Sirte and that she leaves behind two children. Zayani was described in reports as a prisoner (presumably of the GNA).

None of the sources named the belligerent who conducted the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hanan bin Sirteya Gaddafi
Age unknown female Via ٍRihab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ 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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC054

Incident date

December 16, 2016

Location

قنفودة, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians died and as many as three more were wounded in an alleged UAE airstrike on a residential area in Ganfouda, Benghazi, local media reported.

Alnabaa tweeted that “a source from Ganfouda said the two were killed in a foreign bombing of a family home in the area”.

According to Emhona “a man, a woman and a child were injured when a UAE drone bombed the Qanfouda residential area”.

UNSMIL said in its monthly report that one person – a boy – was injured.

Saraya Media Center claimed on Telegram that the strike was conducted by the UAE and posted a picture of a boy injured in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • 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 attacker
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A picture published by Saraya Media Center shows one of the children injured in the strike (Source: Shura Benghazi)

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • 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 attacker
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC056

Incident date

January 2, 2017

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

Alnabaa reported that an unmanned drone targeted a residential area in Ganfouda with four raids and killed three civilians and injured several people including children.

Tayseer Mohammad Tarban Abu Abdullah said that a civilian house was hit, while the same source claimed that the strike was conducted by the UAE.

Saraya Media Center reported on Telegram that three people were killed and three more injured. In the images it appears that a child was injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Images of those likely killed and injured in the strike from Saraya Media Center

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC055

Incident date

January 2, 2017

Location

سبها‎, Gwirat al-Mal checkpoint, Sabha, Libya

Geolocation

27.180096, 14.5336246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in an alleged GNA/Misurata Air Force strike on the road leading to Sabha, local media reported.

According to m.boshgma, “A military aircraft of the Third Force took off from the Tamanhint base and targeted the road leading to the city, injuring civilians”.

AJEL.Ardalsharif.News and krama1951libya published carbon copies of this report.

Anas.zidane.14 also reported civilian casualties. It added that the aim of the strike “was to bomb the army forces and the deputy of the presidential council, Mausi al-Kony”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Gwirat al-Mal checkpoint (قويرة المال) near Sabha (سبها‎). The coordinates for the Gwirat al-Mal checkpoint are 27.180096, 14.5336246.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC057

Incident date

January 3, 2017

Location

قاعدة الجفرة الجوية, Al Jufra Air Base, Jufra, Libya

Geolocation

29.181467, 16.009160 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various local and international sources reported that an LNA airstrike hit Al-Jufra airbase and a C-130 aircraft with a civil and military delegation from the Misurata Military Council. The strike allegedly killed one member of the delegation and wounded two others. One of the injured was named as Colonel Ibrahim Bayt Al-Mal, the spokesperson of Misurata Military Council.

According to a passenger quoted by Libya Observer, Yousif Ben Yousif, the plane was hit by two bombs. Libya Akhbar noted that “The bombing of a civilian plane carrying a social delegation from the city of Misurata at Al-Jafra airport, the killing of one of the members of the delegation and the injury of others by Al-Karama Airlines led to a wave of local denunciations.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adult male Via Libya Observer killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A wounded civilian is treated following the airstrike (via Libya Akhbar)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Jufra Air Base (قاعدة الجفرة الجوية). Analyzing visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location of the strike to these coordinates: 29.181467, 16.009160.

  • Evidence of the strike can be seen in a comparison of satellite imagery available. On the left an image from February 2nd, 2016, and on the right an image from January 19th, 2017.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Reports of the incident mention the Al Jufra Air Base (قاعدة الجفرة الجوية).

    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
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC058

Incident date

January 5, 2017

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

Libya Alahrar TV reported on Facebook that four children were killed in an airstrike in Ganfouda carried out by the UAE in support of LNA. A two-family house was reportedly hit in the strike.

Other sources, such as Morasel Benghazi and bngazy22, also reported the death of four children, some of them quoting the Saraya Media Center.

Al-Saraya Media Center reported that 4 children from 2 familes were killed in the Benghazi neighbourhood of Ganfouda by airstrikes.

Aareen Alasood posted extremely graphic pictures of the victims on Twitter.

According to Abdulqader Alqainin reported that 14 airstrikes in Benghazi were recorded on that day.

Alnabaa reported four UAE drone strikes.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • 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, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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
    4
  • 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, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ038

Incident date

January 11, 2017

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

Alnabaa TV reported that a foreign aircraft conducted airstrikes in Ganfouda. Its source in the Benghazi Shura Council didn’t confirm any casualties.

According to Alnabaa, Ganfouda has also been hit by artillery shelling in the early morning hours and civilian infrastructure was heavily targeted in the strike. Alnabaa suspected civilians in the buildings but couldn’t confirm any casualties.

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
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]