Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

LC089

Incident date

September 14, 2018

Location

كورى بوقودى, Kouri Bougoudi, Murzuq, Libya

Geolocation

23.482406, 15.962053 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed in an alleged Chadian helicopter strike on an illegal gold mine in Kouri Bougoudi at the Libyan-Chadian border.

Reuters wrote: “Chadian army helicopters killed two civilians in bombing runs over a gold mining town along the Libyan border, where government forces have clashed with a fledgeling rebel movement, a family member of the victims and an intelligence official said.

Two helicopters attacked the town of Kouri Bougoudi on Thursday and the two men died from their wounds on Friday, the family member, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters. Two other civilians were wounded in the attacks, the person said.

An intelligence source, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that two civilians were killed in the raids.

Chad’s army spokesman declined to comment.”

Tchad Today named the victims as Galmai Dirdemi and Hassan Kelle Lony.

Al Wihda Info provided more details on the attack: “Last Thursday, the day of the bombing, the helicopters flew low over two camps suspected of harbouring gold miners. The bombing was remotely controlled thanks to the GPS position of the target. For a few minutes, the helicopters dropped bombs and fired a 17-gauge weapon. The aim was to neutralize the individuals in these two camps, according to concordant sources.”

It further reported that “gold miners on the scene accuse the air force of having used in this helicopter firing cluster bombs and submunitions against the two camps, to neutralize their target. This former rebel officer was wounded in the bombing but his life is no longer engaged, said his family to Al Wihda Info.”

218 TV also reported on the strike but didn’t name the belligerent or mention civilian harm.

As the illegal gold mines are exactly placed along the border it is contested among the sources whether the strike took place in Libya or Chad. Le Monde Afrique said it was in “the extreme north” of Chad, while a map of gold mines published by ag on Twitter puts the location of Kouri Boudgoudi on the Libyan side of the border. Arnaud Delalande also reported airstrikes on Kilinje which is deeper inside Libyan territory and used by Chadian rebels to illegaly source gold.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Galmai Dirdemi
Age unknown Via Tchad Today killed
Hassan Kelle Lon
Age unknown Via Tchad Today killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Chadian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tchad Today showing images of the victims
  • Map of the border area placing Kouri Bougoudi inside Libya
  • Menastream showing the impact of the strike
  • Menastream showing the impact of the strike
  • Menastream showing the impact of the strike
  • Menastream showing the impact of the strike

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Kouri Bougoudi (كورى بوقودى), for which the generic coordinates are: 23.482406, 15.962053. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Chadian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Chadian Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC088

Incident date

September 11, 2018

Location

أبو سليم, Abu Salim, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.842957, 13.171578 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Around four civilians were reported injured because of indiscriminate artillery shelling on the Abu Salim neighbourhood of Tripoli.

The Municipal Council of Abu Salim posted on Facebook about the events: “Shelling on one of the safe houses behind the health complex in the municipality of Abu Salim, causing panic among the residents and some damage to the building. Some civilians walking nearby were injured, three teenagers suffered minor injuries and a driver was seriously injured.

The injured people are at Abu Salim Hospital.”

Ean Libya published a similar report referring to the Council’s statement.

Libya 24 reported: “At dawn, a shell landed on a house behind the health complex in the municipality of Abu Salim. A number of civilians were injured, including a serious injury, in addition to damage to the building.”

Clashes in the previous week between the 7th Brigade and GNA-affiliated militias point at one of them as the perpetrators.

UN envoy Ghassan Salame claimed to know who is behind the shelling in a press conference and said he would disclose it if the shelling continues.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the people injured in the attack (via Abu Salim Municipal Council)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Abu Salim (أبو سليم), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.842957, 13.171578. 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 Abu Salim (أبو سليم).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

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

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC087

Incident date

September 2, 2018

Location

الفلاح, Al Falah, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.855076, 13.154240 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and four people were reported killed because of artillery shelling on a refugee camp in Tripoli.

Libya Alaan said that “two were killed and five wounded on Sunday after a shell fell on the Tawergha camp.”

Alkhal Altawerghi named the victims as Abu Bakr Mohammed Masoud Al Zamirli and his brother Khaled.

Libya’s Channel also reported two people dead and 15 injured.

RT reported a higher death toll: “Four people were killed and seven others injured when a shell fell on a camp for displaced people in the Al-Falah area of the Libyan capital Tripoli.

The RT correspondent reported that the shell fell on a Tawergha refugee camp in Al Falah area, known as Camp No. 2.”

Local sources reported clashes between GNA-affiliated militias and the 7th Brigade at the time of the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Abu Bakr Mohammed Masoud Al Zamirli
Adult male Via @khal_eltawrghi killed
Khaled Mohammed Masoud Al Zamirli
Adult male Via @khal_eltawrghi injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–15
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Image of one of the victims
  • Libya Alaan shows the impact of the artillery shelling
  • Libya's Channel shows the aftermath of the artillery strike

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Falah (الفلاح), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.855076, 13.154240. 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 Falah (الفلاح).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

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

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–15
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC093

Incident date

September 1–30, 2018

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians were reported killed as a result of possible indiscriminate artillery shelling in and around Tripoli.

The Tripoli wounded affairs administration posted on Facebook: “Statistics of the victims of the clashes that took place south of Tripoli on Thursday, 20 September 2018

Casualties:

11 deaths (5 civilians, 3 foreign workers, 3 fighters)

1 missing

11 injured”

Alnabaa TV broadcasted a report where it stated that four civilians had been killed and 17 people had been injured in the clashes.

Casualties from the cases LC090, LC091 and LC092 have been deducted in this report. It is also unclear whether all the victims died from artillery strikes or from gunfire.

In its monthly report for September UNSMIL reported eight civilian deaths plus 16 wounded for the whole of Libya from shelling. It reported 15 civilian deaths and 22 injuries for Tripoli, the majority of which from indiscriminate artillery shelling, mentioning cases also assessed by Airwars.

Local reports point at the 7th Brigade or GNA-affiliated militias as the perpetrator.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–17
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Casualty statistics of the Tripoli clashes: Casualties: 11 deaths (5 civilians, 3 Foreigner workers, 3 fighters) 1 missing 11 injured
  • TV report from Alnabaa saying the death toll on September 18th-20th was four civilians and three combatants. In addition 17 people were reported injured
  • Local sources keep posting images of damaged civilian infrastructure

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the coordinates are: 32.886602, 13.190912. 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

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–17
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC086

Incident date

August 31, 2018

Location

Tripoli: Al Wadan hotel, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.893428, 13.190984 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reported injured from indiscriminate artillery shelling on the Al Wadan hotel in Tripoli.

Sky News reported: “A hotel in the centre of Tripoli was bombed indiscriminately, injuring at least three people amid fighting between rival militias aspiring to take power in the Libyan capital.

The rocket hit the fourth floor of the Wadan Hotel, 100 meters from the Italian Embassy.

The missile also caused heavy damage inside and outside the hotel, forcing the evacuation.”

Alwasat published a similar report: “Ambulances rushed to the Wadan Hotel in the centre of Tripoli on Saturday after being subjected to indiscriminate bombardment in the ongoing clashes in the capital since Sunday.”

Local sources reported clashes between GNA-affiliated militias and the 7th Brigade at the time of the incident.

The incident occured at 05:50:00 local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Images of the impact of the shelling on Al Wadan hotel.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Wadan Hotel being struck, for which the generic coordinates are: 32.893428, 13.190984. 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

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, 7th Brigade

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC085

Incident date

August 30, 2018

Location

طريق المشتل, Arboretum Way, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.849645, 13.296632 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two children were reported killed by local sources as a result of indiscriminate artillery shelling in Tripoli.

Our Libya Choice posted on Twitter that “two children were killed after a shell landed on the house of the ben Ashour family near of the Arboretum triangle in the area of Ain Zara in the vicinity of clashes in Tripoli.”

Ahmed H Oheada added that the victims were 14 and 16 years old.

Jana News reported from the funeral of the two children and named them as Khaled Abdul Karim Ben Ashour, 11 years old, and his cousin Moayad Mohammed Juha, 6 years old. The news outlet claimed they were in fact shot outside their house.

None of the sources blamed any faction for the attack. Media reports, however, indicate artillery shelling by both GNA-affiliated militias as well as the rivalling 7th Brigade.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Abdul Karim Ben Ashour
11 years old Via Jana News killed
Moayad Mohammed Juha
6 years old Via Jana News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Libya Alaan giving an approximate location of the incident
  • Images of the location hit by the shell
  • Al Motawaset published an image of the two children reported killed in the attack

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area of Arboretum Way (طريق المشتل), for which one source, @libyaalaan, designates the residential building being struck at these approximate coordinates: 32.849645, 13.296632. 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

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC084a

Incident date

August 28, 2018

Location

وادي الربيع, Wadi al Rabie, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.709600, 13.382378 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, a woman and her two sons, were killed as the result of artillery shelling on Wadi al Rabie in Tajoura, according to Human Rights Watch.

The NGO reported: “On August 28, a mortar shell landed on a house in Wadi Al-Rabie, killing a woman and her two sons, aged 6 and 10, according to Ali, who was among the crew recovering the bodies. “The scene is difficult to describe,” he said. “We only found some body parts of the woman, and her two children were badly burned. They all died on the spot.”

Local media reports indicate that GNA-affiliated militias and the 7th Brigade were shelling the area at the time of the incident.

There are currently no other sources available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Wadi Al Rabie (الطويشة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.709600, 13.382378. 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 Wadi Al Rabie (الطويشة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

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

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC084

Incident date

August 27, 2018

Location

صلاح الدين, Salaheddin, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.846389, 13.161667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Amr Fathalla, reported on Twitter that one civilian was killed in artillery shelling in the Salaheddin neighbourhood of Tripoli.

@AmrFatihalla listed Amer Faraj Ahmed, 60 years old, as dead as a result of indiscriminate shelling. In addition, Malik Amer Faraj, 18 years old, Saleh Ali al Fiel, 53 years old, and Juma Amer Faraj, 11 years old, were reported injured from shrapnel. The source didn’t mention who was behind the shelling.

Another source, Atlas Assistance, however, said that the Nawasi Brigade, the ‘Ghneiwa’ Brigade and the Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade (TRB), which all are under the GNA umbrella, as well as the rivalling 7th Brigade, also known a Kani Brigade from Tarhouna, shelled the area. According to the source, there were “dozens killed & injured today in armed clashes in the southern suburbs of Tripoli” but no civilian harm was specifically mentioned.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amer Faraj Ahmed
60 years old male Via @AmrFatihalla killed
Malik Amer Faraj
18 years old male Via @AmrFatihalla injured
Saleh Ali al Fiel
53 years old male Via @AmrFatihalla injured
Juma Amer Faraj
11 years old male Via @AmrFatihalla injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Amr Fathalla listing names of the civilians casualties resulting from the attack.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Salaheddin (صلاح الدين), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.846389, 13.161667. 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 Salaheddin (صلاح الدين).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

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

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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, 7th Brigade

Sources (2) [ collapse]