Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

Lib2011-002

Incident date

February 15, 2011

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.112582, 20.082151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 16th, between 6:30 and 7:45 PM local time, multiple sources reported one death and multiple injuries in Benghazi after the breakup by security forces of a sit-in.

The reported death was of Khaled al-Naji ‘Abderrazeq Khanfar, a 22 year old student who was shot by Gaddafi security forces.

Amnesty quotes the father of Khaled, “We had closed the shop and gone home and I told him not to go out but he wanted to go to check as our shop is right next to the ISA building where there was the demonstration. He went out at about 7.30pm to 8pm and less than an hour later we received a call that he had been killed. He was shot in the chest.”

Reuters, DW Arabic, and various Twitter reports confirmed additional injuries.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–38
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Benghazi (بنغازي‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.112582, 20.082151. 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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14–38
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-144

Incident date

August 21, 2011

Location

غرغور, Gharghour, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

At least 17 people were killed in the Gargur district in Tripoli by pro-Gaddafi forces according to BBC News.

Human Rights Watch says that pro-Gaddafi forces were holding the dead in a building belonging to the Libyan Internal Security Forces and that they were physically tortured before they were killed. According to a doctor, half of the dead were shot in the back of the head, making it hard to identify their faces.

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
    17
  • (17 other protected persons)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the area of Gharghour (غرغور) in Tripoli (طرابلس‎), 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.

  • Reports of the incident mention the area of Gharghour (غرغور) in Tripoli (طرابلس‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    17
  • (17 other protected persons)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC429

Incident date

May 25, 2022

Location

أبو سليم, Abo Salim, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.852987, 13.184588 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A mortar shell injured at least two civilians when it hit Omdurman, the Abu Salim area of Tripoli, Libya on May 25th 2022, according to local sources.

According to @KhaledDernah3, the injuries were of the “city team player”, Anwar Makhlouf, and his friend, Fathi Baira, who had minor injuries. Both were transferred to Al-Khadra Hospital for treatment for shrapnel wounds.

A Facebook post by Tripolistreets0 identified Anwar as having a shrapnel in his foot.

The source also said that the projectile was from a 23-caliber weapon.

There is no reference in any source which identifies the belligerent.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Anwar Makhlouf
Age unknown male injured
Fathi Baira
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Anwar Makhlouf, a football player, injured when a mortar hit him and his friend in Abo Salim, Tripoli on May 25th 2022 (Image via @salaaah62 / Twitter)
  • Fathi Baira, injured when a mortar hit him and his friend in Abo Salim, Tripoli on May 25th 2022 (Image via @salaaah62 / Twitter)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Omdurman (ام درمان) in the Abo Salim (أبو سليم) neighbourhood of Tripoli (طرابلس). The generic coordinates for Omdurman are: 32.852987, 13.184588. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[13.1745923,32.8498935],[13.1765342,32.855112],[13.1912649,32.8562566],[13.1924021,32.8561755],[13.1930995,32.8560674],[13.1933999,32.8558871],[13.1935394,32.8556348],[13.1934857,32.8544631],[13.1925631,32.8521558],[13.1860185,32.8510833],[13.1827462,32.8507408],[13.1748497,32.8496592],[13.1745923,32.8498935]]]}}]}

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ061

Incident date

November 22, 2017

Location

الحدود الليبية المصرية, Libyan-Egyptian border, Libya

Geolocation

29.3223255, 24.7302246 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various sources reported Egyptian airstrikes destroying 10 vehicles allegedly loaded with ammunition and weapons at the Libyan side of the border.

“‘The air force has dealt a new blow to smugglers and infiltrators across the border,’ preventing them from bringing weapons and ammunition into Egypt, army spokesman Tamer al-Refai said in a statement posted on Facebook”, according to Middle East Online.

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
    Egyptian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Images: Akhbar Libya 24

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military 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
    Egyptian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ023

Incident date

January 31, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Leithi, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.094722, 20.1275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

LNA reported that it carried out intensive airstrikes against ISIS targets in the Sabri, Bouatni, Al-Leithi, Hawari and Qawarsheh areas of Benghazi.

However, despite the intensive attacks there were no known local reports of civilian harm.

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 (1) [ 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
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC015a

Incident date

March 29, 2015

Location

زوارة, Zuwara, Nuqat al Khums, Libya

Geolocation

32.924798, 12.075283 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported injured as a result of alleged LNA airstrikes in Zuwara.

Abdo Kablan posted on Twitter that LNA planes bombed “Zuwara and Gharyan, thank god there are no dead but two wounded in the city of Zuwara.”

Other sources reported LNA airstrikes in the area but no civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Libyan official: Two people injured in air strike of government headquarters in Zuwara: Tripoli vision - Two people were injured by a warplane targeting (Source: @@RoayahNews)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Zuwara (زوارة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.924798, 12.075283. 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
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC214

Incident date

October 7, 2019

Location

الطويشة, Altwaisha, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.639449, 13.111109 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One doctor was allegedly killed in an LNA or Emirati airstrike on Qasr Bin Gashir.

The Libyan Express reported: “An airstrike by Khalifa Haftar’s forces hit a field hospital in Gaser Benghashir municipality (near Tripoli airport) on 7 October, killing 1 doctor and injuring 2 paramedics.

The airstrikes came amid heavy airpower use by Haftar’s forces, backed by UAE warplanes and drones, in an attempt to advance on Libyan Army positions in southern Tripoli.”

Al Wasat said: “Shrapnel from an airstrike on Monday killed a doctor and injured two paramedics working in a field hospital in the Al-Tweisha area south of Tripoli.

‘Dr. Samer Sulaiman al-Sibai was killed and two paramedics in the Al-Zahra field hospital were wounded,’ the Health Ministry said in a statement.”

The GNA-led Burkan Al Ghadab operation accused the UAE of conducting the strike.

UNSMIL later condemned the attack without mentioning the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dr. Samer Suleiman Al-Sibai
Adult male Medical Doctor killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Picture of Dr. Samer Suleiman Al-Sibai (via Al Wasat)
  • Picture supposedly showing the dead body of the victim (via Al Wasat)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Altwaisha (الطويشة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.639449, 13.111109. 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 Altwaisha (الطويشة).

    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

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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.
  • Suspected attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC241

Incident date

November 10, 2019

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

Two civilians were allegedly killed by LNA artillery shelling on the Salaheddin neighbourhood of Tripoli.

The Libya Observer wrote: “Khalifa Haftar’s artillery weapons attacked southern Tripoli neighborhoods, including Salah Al-Deen where two civilians were killed and others were wounded, media office of Volcano of Rage Operation said.

The spokesman for Ministry of Health Fawzi Awnis confirmed that two bodies arrived Sunday in a field hospital in Tripoli, saying they were killed in random shelling on Salah Al-Deen neighborhood.

Awnis added that ambulances were searching for injured civilians in the area of the artillery shelling.”

218TV said: “Two people, Shaaban al-Akhdar and Mohammad Ahmad al-Atrash, were killed by an indiscriminate shell in the area between al-Khala and Sidra (Salaheddin), according to local residents.”

Other sources published similar accounts. The GNA-led Burkan Al Ghadab operation also accused the LNA of conductung the strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shaaban al-Akhdar
Adult male killed
Mohammad Ahmad al-Atrash
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of Mohammed Ahmed al-Atrash allegedly killed in LNA strike on Salaheddin on November 10th, 2019 (via FMSC)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Body of Sha'aban Ali al-Akhdar allegedly killed in LNA strike on Salaheddin on November 10th, 2019 (via FMSC)
  • Damaged building after alleged LNA strike on Salaheddin on November 10th, 2019 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)
  • Blood stains on the ground after alleged LNA strike on Salaheddin on November 10th, 2019 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)
  • More blood stains on the ground after alleged LNA strike on Salaheddin on November 10th, 2019 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)
  • Destroyed car after alleged LNA strike on Salaheddin on November 10th, 2019 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)
  • Blood stains on the ground after alleged LNA strike on Salaheddin on November 10th, 2019 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)

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

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]