Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LQ024

Incident date

February 8, 2016

Location

درنة‎, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.757426, 22.637601 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Libyan Air Force MIG-23 was shot down in the Sidi Khalid area, 35 km West of Derna, after conducting airstrikes in Derna according to various sources. Apparently, the plane had shelled the 400 neighbourhoods in retaliation for the killing of civilians on February 7th.

The Libya Observer reported that the Derna Shura Council, which had been targeted by the plane, downed it. The pilot Younis Al-Dinali made it out alive. He claimed that the jet crashed due to a technical malfunction.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A video shows A Libyan Air Force MIG-23 that was shot down in the Sidi Khalid area

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
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ007a

Incident date

April 24, 2015

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Airwars assessment

Dawa Alhaq reported a GNC/Libya Dawn airstrike in Sirte likely resulting in civilian harm: “A military aircraft belonging to the ‘Dawn of Libya’ militia, backed by Libya’s brothers who control Tripoli, launched air strikes on Thursday night on sites in the city of Sirte.
‘A Libyan warplane launched several air strikes on the sites of the Islamic state in the city on Thursday evening,’ a local official in Sirte said on condition of anonymity.
Among the targets targeted by the fighter, the complex is Ouagadougou, the centre of the city, which the fighters of the state take command and control headquarters.”

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
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (1) [ collapse]

General National Congress (GNC) Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    General National Congress (GNC)
  • General National Congress (GNC) 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
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC101a

Incident date

February 2–10, 2019

Location

درنة, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One woman was reportedly injured by indiscrimiate artillery shelling in the Old City of Derna.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) wrote in its report: “Since 2 February, fighting in the old city of Derna intensified, and reportedly resulted in substantial numbers of civilian casualties. While it remains impossible to verify casualty numbers, the UN have received credible reports of the deaths of at least four women and three infants since last Saturday. On 9 February, the UN received reports that the LNA had taken over most of the old city, encircling houses which were still occupied. The same day, the Libyan Red Crescent, on 9 February, recovered three unidentified male corpses from inside the old city. Unconfirmed reports indicate that up to 30 individuals had been injured, including one woman who was reportedly hit by indiscriminate shelling. Reports of arbitrary detention have been received- and the Grenada prison is reportedly already hosting some 2,000 individuals from Derna, with local sources reporting that the inmates are being deprived of water and food.”

The current situation in Derna is difficult to track as the city is cut off from all communication. Occasional reports point at LNA airstrikes and artillery shelling as well as air support from Egypt and the UAE.

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
    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 Derna (درنة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.75591, 22.637772. 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC135

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

جسر الزهراء, Al Zahra Bridge, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.676671, 13.055878 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One man was allegedly injured by an airstrike on Al-Swani.

FMSC reported: “An elderly man was injured by shrapnel as a result of aerial bombardment near al-Zahra bridge in the Al-Swani area.”

Local reports of fighting point at the GNA or LNA as the perpetrator.

 

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, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the alleged victim

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Al Zahra bridge (جسر الزهراء) for which the generic coordinates are: 32.676671, 13.055878. 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

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
    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, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC152

Incident date

June 16, 2019

Location

مستشفى القلب تاجوراء, Tajoura Heart Hospital, Tripoli , Libya

Geolocation

32.877222, 13.396111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that three civilians were injured in an LNA airstrike on Tajoura, Tripoli, on June 16th.

According to this source, “the aerial bombardment of the residential neighbourhoods near the heart hospital caused serious damage to houses, as well as the hospital. Two women, including a pregnant woman, were injured, alongside a child.”

This source reports that those injured had been hospitalised as a result of the airstrike by LNA.

It is unclear whether the source refers to the same event that took place on June 15th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: "The aerial bombardment of the residential neighborhoods near the heart hospital caused serious damage to the houses and the hospital." (via Volcano FB)
  • The hospitalisation of those wounded in the attack on June 16th (via Volcano FB)
  • The hospitalisation of those wounded in the attack on June 16th (via Volcano FB)
  • Caption translation: "The aerial bombardment of the residential neighborhoods near the heart hospital caused serious damage to the houses and the hospital." (via Volcano FB)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Tajoura Heart Hospital (مستشفى القلب تاجوراء), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.877222, 13.396111. 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

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC212

Incident date

October 5, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎: طريق المطار, 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

Four women were reportedly injured by LNA shelling on Tripoli.

Libya Alahrar TV said: “Operation Volcano of Anger [GNA] announced the injury of 4 women due to the warplanes supporting Haftar shelling civilian neighbourhoods in the vicinity of the airport road in the capital Tripoli.

Operation Volcano of Anger added that Saturday night’s shelling caused damage to a power plant and a number of civilian houses.”

There is currently no additonal information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Image of the aftermath (via Libya Alahrar TV)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Libya Alahrar TV)

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

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC239

Incident date

November 5, 2019

Location

الرملة, Al Ramla, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.682634, 13.111924 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly killed by an airstrike in the Al Ramla area of Qasr Bin Gashir.

Libya Alahrar TV reported: “Al-Swani Field Hospital of the Center for Field Medicine and Support reported that the body of Khaled Salem Al-Marghani was recovered from Al-Khuwaildi area.

Al-Swani field hospital said that Khaled al-Marghani was subjected to aerial bombardment while he was working to transport some things inside the warehouse of one of the airport finance companies, where shrapnel penetrating his back area led to his death.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Picture of the alleged victim (via FMSC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another picture of the alleged victim (via FMSC)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Ramlah (الرملة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.682634, 13.111924. 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 Al Ramlah (الرملة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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 attacker
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC267

Incident date

December 31, 2019–January 1, 2020

Location

قصر أبو هادي, Qasr Abu Hadi, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.053738, 16.655473 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Conflicting reports emerged of alleged airstrikes by an unknown belligerent on the night of December 31st, 2019 and January 1st, 2020 on Abu Hadi area near the city of Sirte.

A Central Gate reporter quoted local sources, who said that three people had died and two people were wounded in airstrikes on the Abu Hadi area near Sirte. Al Wasat News also reported civilian casualties on Twitter.

Taha Hadid, spokesperson for the Protection and Insurance Force of Sirte, however, stated: “The city of Sirte was not exposed to any airstrikes on the night of Tuesday or the first Wednesday of January 2020. We demand the sites that published the news – without relying on any source – to be honest, and not to intimidate citizens by fabricating false news.”

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qasr Abu Hadi (قصر ابو هادي‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.053738, 16.655473. 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

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]