Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LC017a

Incident date

May 14, 2015

Location

السلام, Al Salam, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.125758, 20.098082 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and eight people, most of them children were reported killed in an LNA airstrike on the Al Salam neighbourhood of Benghazi.

Alwasat News wrote: “Eight people were killed, including seven children, when a rocket hit a residential area in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Thursday (May 14, 2015), a Reuters reporter saw several bodies of children in a hospital in Benghazi, Libya’s second largest city.”

Belreish provided a lower number of casualties and posted images of the victims: “Six children and a 25-year-old man were killed by shelling of the Al-Salam neighbourhood.”

AlmustaqbalNP agreed with the number from Alwasat saying: “Reuters”: 8 killed, including 7 children in a missile strike in the Libyan city of Benghazi.”

Other sources reported airstrikes around Benghazi but didn’t mention civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 8
  • (6–7 children1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Salam (السلام), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.125758, 20.098082. 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 Salam (السلام).

    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
    7 – 8
  • (6–7 children1 man)
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-120

Incident date

June 28, 2011

Location

تاورغاء, Tawergha, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.017169, 15.058388 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A NATO airstrike reportedly killed eight civilians in Tawergha.

Press TV reported: “A NATO warplane has targeted a market in the Libyan town of Tawragha, leaving at least eight civilians dead and several others wounded.

Some of the injured are in critical condition, Xinhua reported on Wednesday, citing a local news agency.

NATO carried out the airstrike on Tawragha, 300 km east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Tuesday amid reports that NATO warplanes were hovering over Tajura, another town 20 km east of Tripoli on the same day.”

Abbas Mansour said that “NATO bombed a vegetable market, a desalination center, and a two-storey house in Tawergha.”

Other sources said that the incident took place near the vegetable market and posted pictures and names of victims.

Tripoli Street denied that the incident happened and accused the people of lying.

NATO did not report airstrikes around Tawergha on that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Tariq Ashour Qassem Adult male killed
  • Rizkallah Moftah Rizkallah Child male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Image of victims allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Tawergha on June 28, 2011 (via Alrasid Altawerghy)
  • Another picture of Tariq Ashour Qassem, allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Tawergha on June 28, 2011 (via Alrasid Altawerghy)
  • Rizkallah Moftah Rizkallah, allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Tawergha on June 28th, 2011 (via Youth for Tawergha)
  • Rizkallah Moftah Rizkallah, allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Tawergha on June 28th, 2011 (via Youth for Tawergha)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Rizkallah Moftah Rizkallah, allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Tawergha on June 28th, 2011 (via Youth for Tawergha)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tawergha (تاورغاء), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.017169, 15.058388. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (3 children1 woman2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC118

Incident date

April 16, 2019

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

Between three and six civilians were allegedly killed by indiscriminate LNA artillery shelling on the Abu Salim neighbourhood of Tripoli.

The Libya Observer said a Filipino worker was killed by shelling.

Field medicine and support center (FMSC) counted three dead and 11 injured.

GNA media wrote the shelling “resulted in the death of three women and one man, and more than 26 wounded, 7 of them with intensive care, four of them amputated, most of these injuries in the neighborhood of Abu Salim, and Salahuddin.”

Al Khal reported the death of the family of Sassi Abu Qusaiha, including mother, two daughters and grandmother.

OCHA reported six people, four of them women, dead “in heaviest shelling since eruption of clashes in Tripoli.”

The Municipal Council of Abu Salim later published a statement saying that “Civilian death toll rises to 7 after death of young man Ali Mohammed Al-Mabrouk, 22 years old, resident of Al-Nasr neighborhood, as a result of the indiscriminate bombing of yesterday night.”

On April 22 the Municipal Council added that Mohammed Ahmed Qashat Al-Zanati died from injuries sustained in the incident.

Though sources apportioned blamed to the LNA for the shelling it later condemned indiscriminate shelling in the outskirts of Tripoli.

Amnesty International later published a detailed report on the incident, saying: “On the night of 16 April, residents reported a number of rocket attacks in Hay al-Intissar. One eyewitness said five rockets struck five different homes – killing four women and one man, and injuring a young girl. The girl was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but survived.”

An on-the-ground investigation by Amnesty International later said: The rockets used in this strike on the Abu Salim neighbourhood are notoriously inaccurate. They cannot be aimed precisely at specific targets and should therefore never be used in populated residential areas. Those who launched these strikes would have known that the likelihood of harming civilians was very high. International humanitarian law prohibits indiscriminate attacks (attacks which are not directed at a specific military objective), as well as attacks which employ a method or means of combat which cannot be directed at a specific military objective. Launching an indiscriminate attack resulting in death or injury to civilians constitutes a war crime.

It also quoted one victim’s brother: “We were 13 people in the house when the rocket struck. Noureddine was upstairs with his wife and their three children and I was downstairs with my family and my parents and siblings. My brother was hit directly; his head and abdomen were split open and had other injuries in his arms and legs. He died instantly. I was only a few meters away from him but was not injured. It could have been me in his place, or anyone else from the family. There is no way of knowing where these rockets will strike and so there is nothing one can do to protect himself and his family. It is terrifying every time we hear shelling and we live with that fear all the time”

The report further states that all residents interviewed by Amnesty International believed the LNA conducted the attack.

The family of Mufida Sasi Abu Gasiah later filed a lawsuit against LNA leader Khalifa Haftar stating: “45. On April 16, 2019, Haftar and his forces launched missiles into the civilian
neighborhood of Hay Alintassar in Trippoli in which Mufida Sasi Abu Gasiah, her
mother, sister, and young daughter lived.
46. Defendant knew that there were numerous civilians living in this neighborhood. He
knew that there were women and children present.
47. Yet without any regard for human life, Defendant Haftar still launched missiles into
the Hay Alintassar, Trippoli.
48. Mufida Sasi Abu Gasiah, along with her mother, sister, and young daughter, lived on
Tariq Al Matar road in the neighborhood of Hay Alintassar, Trippoli.
49. Mufida Sasi Abu Gasiah, her mother and sister were all killed by the missile strike on
April 16, 2019.

Plaintiff Mais Ahmed Mayouf was the only survivor of the brutal attack. She was
taken to the hospital for observations but was then released.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Ali Mohammed Al-Mabrouk 22 years old male killed
  • Mohammed Ahmed Qashat Al-Zanati 23 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (3–4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–26
  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Pictures of victims allegedly injured or killed in the shelling
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More pictures of alleged victims
  • More pictures from the incident
  • A house allegedly damaged by shelling
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More pictures from the incident

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

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (3–4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–26
  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC050

Incident date

November 15, 2016

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

Eight prisoners were reported killed following LNA airstrikes on Benghazi.

The LNA self-reported airstrikes in the following locations:

“A MiG-23ML and a Mig23BN reportedly targeted the vehicles and fighters of alleged terrorist groups while trying to escape from the Qawarsheh area to Qanfouda after the siege on, reportedly leading to their destruction.

A MiG-21 reportedly targeted fighters and vehicles in the fish market area.

The helicopters reportedly intensified their reconnaissance and combat missions in Qawarsheh area and Qanfouda, which destroyed a number of observatories, fighters and vehicles.”

However the Benghazi Shura Council later released a statement saying that eight prisoners detained by its forces were killed in an airstrike in an area under their control.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: a list of prisiners names that killed by air strike (Source: Mohamed Abu Shaqma)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention 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.

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
    8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-070

Incident date

April 20, 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

Seven civilians were reported killed as a result of indiscriminate shelling on Misurata by Gaddafi forces. Among them were two internationally known photojournalists, Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros.

The BBC reported: “Briton Tim Hetherington, 40, is said to have been killed in a rocket-propelled grenade attack. US photographer Chris Hondros, 41, was also killed, and two others, including Briton Guy Martin, were injured.”

A former colleague later said they were indeed killed by a mortar shell: “Sebastian Junger had planned to be along on that assignment. ‘At the last minute, I couldn’t go,’ he told Koppel. ‘Tim went on his own, and was hit with a fragment from an .81 mm mortar, the same mortar that killed Chris Hondros.'”

In a Vanity Fair article he reiterated the story: “Tim was 40 years old when he died and had devoted most of his professional life to documenting the human cost of war. On April 20, in a bombed-out section of Misrata, a single mortar shell made him part of the cost. He was hit in the groin with shrapnel and bled out in the back of a pickup truck while Guillermo Cervera, a Spanish photojournalist he had just met, held his hand and tried to keep him awake. Hours earlier, amidst fierce shelling by Qaddafi forces, Tim had sent what was to be his last message on Twitter: In besieged Libyan city of Misurata. Indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. No sign of NATO.”

According to the Daily Mail, three more people were injured in the attack.

Arab Anger Revolution said that five more people were killed on that day in Misurata due to indiscriminate shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Tim Hetherington 40 years old male Photographer killed
  • Chris Hondros 41 years old male Photographer killed
  • Guy Martin Adult male Photographer injured
  • Michael Brown Adult male Freelance journalist injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Tim Hetherington (via CBS)
  • Chrin Hondros (via CBS)
  • Video report on the incident by BBC Arabic
  • Euro News report on the incident

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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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 targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC008

Incident date

December 3, 2014

Location

زوارة بورت , Zuwara Port, Nuqat al Khums, Libya

Geolocation

32.921944, 12.120556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

LNA airstrikes reportedly targeted the port area in Zuwara. Most sources claimed there were no civilian casualties, though one report said that seven people were killed and 25 injured – but didn’t specify if they were civilians or combatants.

Ean Libya reported that the security official Spokesman (Hafed Muamer) confirmed that no casualties occurred during this strike: A warplane bombed the port without causing any civilian casualties, and it was also not possible to know the material losses so far, the spokesman of the security bureau, Zuwara Hafez Muammar, was quoted as saying.

According to Almukhtaser, seven people were killed and 25 injured in air strikes on the Libyan city of Zuwara in raids by the government aircraft of Haftar.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: 7 persons have been killed in an alleged LNA airstrikes (Source: @almokhtsar)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Zuwara Port (زوارة بورت ), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.922249, 12.118607. 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
    0 – 7
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC047

Incident date

October 24, 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

The US conducted four airstrikes in the Giza neighbourhood in Sirte. One source on Facebook mentioned that Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous soldiers found seven dead bodies of civilians in a house. The bodies were apparently charred.

According to Madridi Aween, “Our rebels found a number of bodies in several houses in the camp during a search by the Military Engineering forces. They found seven bodies in a house, some of them charred”.

However, the combatant status of the victims was unclear.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces

Sources (7) [ 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

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-072

Incident date

April 20, 2011

Location

خلة الفرجان, Khallet Al Furjan, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.795738, 13.217038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Seven civilians were reported killed and 18 other injured in Tripoli as a result of NATO bombing.

Arab Anger Revolution claimed that “NATO aircraft launched two air raids on the Libyan capital Tripoli on Wednesday evening, killing several people. Government television said seven people were killed and 18 others wounded when four rockets were fired at the Furjan area of ​​the capital.”

NATO itself reported six strikes on that day on “2 heavy equipment transporters, 3 armored vehicles” and “1 ammunition storage site” but did not admit to any civilian harm.

According to independent monitors, throughout the NATO campaign civilian casualty numbers provided by the Gaddafi regime were reportedly inflated.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    18
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Khallet Al Furjan (خلة الفرجان).

    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 Tripoli: 2 heavy equipment transporters, 3 armored vehicles, 1 ammunition storage site.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Civilians reported injured
    18
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]