Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

Lib2011-032

Incident date

March 13, 2011

Location

الزاوية‎, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

A family of 15 was reportedly killed by Gaddafi forces bombing of Zawiya.

Jeanie Abdullah tweeted: “The killing of an entire Palestinian family from the Al-Derwai family – the number of family members is 15 – in the bombing of their homes in the Libyan city of Zawiya.”

Other users on Twitter published similar reports.

Pal Today published a news piece titled ‘An entire Palestinian family was killed in the bombing of their home in Libya’: “For about a week, the 48-year-old citizen Jamila Khaldi, who lives in Rafah governorate, has been living in a state of extreme anxiety and insomnia, after communication ceased with her sister, Al-Hajjah, ‘Rasmi’, who is 67 years old, and resides in the city of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, the capital of Libya, with her husband, Muhammad al-Derawi and his family members.

After seeing on TV the scenes of destruction in the city of Zawiya as a result of the clashes between the rebels and Colonel Gaddafi’s forces, the citizen ‘Khalidi’ burst into tears as she pleaded with God to protect her sister, her husband and members of his family, and called on the Palestinian embassy in Libya to search for her sister, her husband, and members of his family and inform them about their fate which has become unknown.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

67 years old female Unclear whether dead or no killed
Adult male Unclear whether dead or no killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • 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.

Sources (5) [ collapse]

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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15
  • 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.

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-190

Incident date

October 1, 2011

Location

الحي رقم 3, Neighbourhood No. 3, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.204873, 16.600943 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A brother and a sister have allegedly been injured due to an attack by the NATO in neighbourhood number 3 in Sirte.

NATO on that day reported hitting in the vicinity of Sirte: “1 command and control node, 1 infantry and anti-aircraft artillery staging area, 2 armed vehicles, 4 armoured infantry vehicles, 1 tank.”

There is no further information currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

4 years old female was seriously injured in the nose and scattered shrapnel in the body injured
Child male was seriously injured in the nose and scattered shrapnel in the body injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the third neighbourhood (الحي رقم 3) of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.204873, 16.600943. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the third neighbourhood (الحي رقم 3) of Sirte (سرت‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 command and control node, 1 infantry and anti-aircraft artillery staging area, 2 armed vehicles, 4 armoured infantry vehicles, 1 tank.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-077

Incident date

April 25, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.374457, 15.087794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 25th, 2011, Gaddafi forces shelled Misurata at dawn, firing over 40 rockets.

Al Jazeera reported that 12 civilians were killed in the attack and a further 57 injured , according to a rebel spokesman.

Airwars has to date been unable to identify additional sources in relation to this event.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    57
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misurata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.374457, 15.087794. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    57
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-157

Incident date

September 6, 2011

Location

Libya

Airwars assessment

A single source reported one potential civilian death from a Rebel forces or NATO action in Libya.

Nour Al Din Nasser Al Zanki said that “Sada Moftah Attaf, 26 years old, was killed” on September 6th.

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

26 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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 attackers
    Libyan rebel forces, NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

No geolocation information available.

Libyan rebel forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Libyan rebel forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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 attackers
    Libyan rebel forces, NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-022

Incident date

February 25, 2011

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.886602, 13.190912 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 25th, 2011, five civilians were reported killed and between 12 and 24 injured as a result of Gaddafi forces in Tripoli. @Globe_info reported the casualties on Twitter.

@Globe_info states “The Zawia Street Hospital in Tripoli is now receiving five martyrs and dozens of wounded, some of them in danger.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.886602, 13.190912. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-209

Incident date

October 25, 2011

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.886602, 13.190912 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two men died on October 25, 2011 after being detained in rebel custody in Tripoli on October 25, 2011 according to the UN Report Source Page 81.

One man, a member of Gaddafi’s security forces, was arrested by the rebels on September 11, 2011 and held in the former Internal Security Agency building in central Tripoli. His family received a call from a Tripoli hospital and when they arrived he was dead, with the cause of death being heart and kidney failure triggered by beatings and videos show that the victim had severe bruising, missing flesh, whip marks, and open wounds.

Another man died from torture 10 days after he was arrested without a warrant or cause by rebels in his neighborhood. The autopsy showed that his death was the result of severe beatings all over his body.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men1 other protected person)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.886602, 13.190912. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men1 other protected person)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ045

Incident date

May 26, 2017

Location

درنة‎, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

According to local sources and the Egyptian government, Cairo carried out four ‘retaliatory’ air raids in Derna.

Babak Taghvaee reported the Egyptian Air Force had targeted the “al Qaeda affiliated Shura Council” in Derna.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister confirmed strikes, reporting it had targeted “terrorist organizations in Derna” – in response to the killing of more than two dozen Coptic Christians inside Libya. The video of the beheading of the Christians was released by ISIS.

It was unclear from the reports monitored whether any civilians had been injured in the attacks.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Egyptian Military

Sources (20) [ 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]