Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

Lib2011-182

Incident date

September 25, 2011

Location

برج الساعة المجاور للحي رقم 3, Clock tower adjacent Neighbourhood No. 3, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.201721, 16.592180 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to various sources mostly affiliated with the Gaddafi regime, family members residing in neighbourhood number 3 in front of Al Sa’a (clock) tower, Sirte, were injured and some killed due to an attack launched by NATO in September 25th 2011.

It is unclear due to contradicting sources, whether Sarah Ahmed Abd al-Mawli Yunus and Muhammad Ahmed Abdel-Mawali Younes were killed or severely injured.

NATO on that day reported hitting: “1 command and control node, 2 ammunition/vehicle storage facility, 1 radar facility, 1 multiple rocket launcher, 1 military support vehicle, 1 artillery piece, 1 ammunition storage facility.” in the vicinity of Sirte.

There is no further information currently available.

The incident occured at 09:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

35 years old years old female 'she is the mother of the children and the wife of Ahmid Abdel Mawla Younes' injured
6 years old years old male Unclear as well if he was killed or injured (contradicting information) injured
Age unknown female It is unclear if she was killed or severely injured in her legs injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2–4 children)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    This video capturing civilians including children who were injured by NATO's strike on a house in Sirte, in September 25th 2011. In the video, the nurse said that the strike took place at 9am. (via
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The video showing young children who are severely injured by the NATO's attack on their houses in Sirte. The nurse mentioned that it was the first day in the academic year. (via Surt son)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The video capturing children who are severely injured, being treated in a hospital after NATO's attack in Sirte, in September 25th 2011. The date was mentioned by the nurse in the video. (via Surt son)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The video showing several children who are suffering from severe injures due to NATO's attack in Sirte being treated at a hospital in September 25th 2011 (via Libya voice)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Same video that was posted by Surt son.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A different source for the same video that was posted by Surt son.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    This video is showing a woman -unknown name- while she died at the hospital due to her injures from NATO attacks in September 25th 2011 (via Libya’s history)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    It shows a boy who is severely injured in his lower jaw due to NATO's attack to his house in neighbourhood number 3 in front of Al Sa'a (clock) tower in Sirte, on September 25th 2011. (Sirte Breaking)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    It shows a boy who is severely injured in his lower jaw due to NATO's attack to his neighbourhood number 3 in front of Al Sa'a (clock) tower in Sirte, on September 25th 2011. (Sirte Breaking)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An images shows the injury that the girl endured due to NATO attack to her neighbourhood in Sirte, on September 25th 2011 (via Sirte breaking)
  • The girl whose leg was injured and might develop as she grows up to disability due to NATO's attack in Sirte, on September 25th 2011. (via Sirte breaking)
  • Another image of the injury as a result of NATO's attack on neighbourhood number 3 in front of Al Sa' a(clock) tower, Sirte, on September 25th 2011 (via Sirte breaking)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another image showing the severity of the injury that was a result of NATO's attack on neighbourhood number 3 in front of Al Sa' a(clock) tower, Sirte, on September 25th 2011 (via Hamid Abo Bakkar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A scene from a meeting with the family who was injured due to NATO's attack on neighbourhood number 3 in front of Al Sa' a(clock) tower, Sirte, on September 25th 2011 (via Hamid Abo Bakkar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another image focused on the girl's injury that took place as a result of NATO's attack on neighbourhood number 3 in front of Al Sa' a(clock) tower, Sirte, on September 25th 2011 (via Hamid Abo Bakkar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image of the injures that the children endured due to NATO's attack on neighbourhood number 3 in front of Al Sa' a(clock) tower, Sirte, on September 25th 2011 (via Hamid Abo Bakkar)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a clock tower in the third neighbourhood (الحي رقم 3) of Sirte (سرت‎). Research shows the presence of a clock tower adjacent to the neighbourhood mentioned but we are unable to confirm if this is the clock tower referred to by the sources. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The coordinates for the clock tower are: 31.201721, 16.592180.

  • Reports of the incident mention a clock tower in the third neighbourhood (الحي رقم 3) of Sirte (سرت‎). Research shows the presence of a clock tower adjacent to the neighbourhood mentioned but we are unable to confirm if this is the clock tower referred to by the sources.

    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, 2 ammunition/vehicle storage facility, 1 radar facility, 1 multiple rocket launcher, 1 military support vehicle, 1 artillery piece, 1 ammunition storage facility.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (2–4 children)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-107

Incident date

June 9, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata port, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.365000, 15.218611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, including a child, were allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces shelling of Misurata.

Shahab Al Nahda said: “Mortar shelling from the western side of the port resulted in the death of 2 civilians, including a child.”

There is currently no further known public information regarding this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Other, Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the port in Misrata (مصراتة) being struck, for which the generic coordinates are: 32.365000, 15.218611. Due to limited 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • 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
    Other, Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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.

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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]