Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LQ003

Incident date

November 10, 2014

Location

بنغازي‎, الصابري, Sabri, Banghazi, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.1311985, 20.0748271 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to several local sources,  LNA air force conducted at least two airstrikes targeting the Shura Council in Sabri and Garyounis, Benghazi.

Libya Channel Panorama LPC  reported that the Jerusalem Mosque in Sabri area was damaged followed an alleged LNA strike, though no civilian casualties were publicly reported.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: The impact of the bombing of Khalifa Haftar aircraft to the Al-Quds mosque in the Sabri district of central Benghazi Monday morning (source: Gamal Sultan)

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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-058

Incident date

April 1, 2011

Location

مرسى البريقة, Brega, Al Wahat, Libya

Geolocation

30.411123, 19.570076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between ten and 13 rebel fighters were reportedly killed in friendly fire by a NATO airstrike near Brega. This included three medical students, whom Airwars has classed as non combatants.

While Al Jazeera provided the lowest death toll at ten, the BBC reported: “At least 13 people are reported to have been killed when a coalition plane flying over Libya fired on a rebel convoy between Brega and Ajdabiya on Friday, the rebels say.

Doctors at a hospital in Ajdabiya told the BBC that three medical students were among the dead. Nato said it was looking into the incident but that it was very difficult to verify details about what happened.”

Apparently the aircraft struck because “the rebels were on their way to Brega when they fired into the air with an anti-aircraft gun, the BBC’s Nick Springate reported from the scene of the attack.”

The New York Times also said 13 rebels were killed and quoted two injured fighters.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Brega (البريقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.411123, 19.570076. 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
    3
  • (3 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC143

Incident date

May 16, 2019

Location

بو غيلان, Bu Gheilan, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

32.256538, 13.039711 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A family was reportedly injured in a GNA airstrike on Bu Gheilan.

Tripoli Now said: “A family was injured in Bu Gheilan, Gheryan area, as a result of aerial bombardment by a Misurata aircraft.”

The is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Bu Gheilan (بو غيلان), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.256538, 13.039711. 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC197

Incident date

September 13, 2019

Location

الاصابعة, Asabi'ah, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

32.516483, 13.167439 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed by indiscrimintate shelling on Asabi’ah.

Tk yahrouq Kl shy said: “Drone shelling on the area of Asabi’ah near the Al Sila camp, which led to the death of citizen Abdel-Hakim Bnaser due to aerial bombing.”

There is currently no further information available.

Local reports of fighting point at the GNA or LNA as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdel-Hakim Bnaser
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Asabi’ah (الاصابعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.516483, 13.167439. 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

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC155a

Incident date

June 23, 2019

Location

قصر بن غشير, Qasr Bin Gashir, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.688716, 13.173889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was indirectly killed as a result of a GNA airstrike on Qasr Bin Gashir, according to Amnesty International.

The human rights NGO said in a detailed field investigation: “In a residential area of Qasr Bin Ghashir, two consecutive air strikes destroyed two one-storey houses in the same area in the afternoon of 23 June 2019. One house was empty, but the other was occupied by the al-Dubi family. Twenty-eight-year-old Iman Ramadhan was severely injured and lost her foot. Her uncle told Amnesty International:

‘We were at home, the family, including my 96-year-old mother; we were in the kitchen, which opened into a small internal courtyard. I looked up and saw the plane travelling from west to east; I thought it was going to bomb somewhere far away but at that moment the strike happened. The bomb hit our home. I could not see anything or breathe, there was thick dust or smoke, like a curtain. My mother fainted and never recovered from the shock and died 25 days later, and my sister’s daughter sustained horrific injuries and lost her foot. In addition our home is completely destroyed; we have lost everything. Why are they bombing families in their homes? What reason can there be to do to such a thing? Who will help us now?'”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Iman Ramadhan
28 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Qasr Bin Gashir (قصر بن غشير), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.688716, 13.173889. 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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC255

Incident date

December 16, 2019

Location

مشروع الهضبة, Hadaba project, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.838333, 13.175278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly killed in the Hadaba project area of Tripoli.

Al Wasat reported: “A citizen was killed and a child was wounded when random shells landed in Tripoli.”

Tk Yahroug Kl shy said: “A random shell has landed on the house of the Al-Arabi family in Al-Hadba project.”

Reports of fighting in the area point at the GNA or LNA as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Hadaba Project (مشروع الهضبة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.838333, 13.175278. 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

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC283

Incident date

January 26, 2020

Location

الخطوط الجوية الليبية, Libyan Wings Airlines, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.895041, 13.2785 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were allegedly injured by LNA shelling on Mitiga airport in Tripoli.

Hona Souq Al-Khmies said: ”In addition to our previous publication detailing the targeting of the wings station at Maitika airport with a Grad missile a short time ago and employees were injured by shrapnel, namely, Ibrahim al-Turki and Mustafa Merghem.”

Other sources only reported material damage resulting from the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Car damaged by LNA shelling on Tripoli on Janaury 26th, 2020 (via Libya Alhrar TV)
  • Cars damaged by LNA shelling on Tripoli on Janaury 26th, 2020 (via Libya Alhrar TV)
  • Room damaged by LNA shelling on Tripoli on Janaury 26th, 2020 (via Libya Alhrar TV)
  • Furniture damaged by LNA shelling on Tripoli on Janaury 26th, 2020 (via Libya Alhrar TV)
  • Parking lot damaged by LNA shelling on Tripoli on Janaury 26th, 2020 (via Libya Alhrar TV)
  • Furniture damaged by LNA shelling on Tripoli on Janaury 26th, 2020 (via Libya Alhrar TV)
  • Cars damaged by LNA shelling on Tripoli on Janaury 26th, 2020 (via Libya Alhrar TV)
  • Cars damaged by LNA shelling on Tripoli on Janaury 26th, 2020 (via Libya Alhrar TV)
  • Cars damaged by LNA shelling on Tripoli on Janaury 26th, 2020 (via Libya Alhrar TV)
  • Car damaged by LNA shelling on Tripoli on Janaury 26th, 2020 (via Libya Alhrar TV)
  • Car damaged by LNA shelling on Tripoli on Janaury 26th, 2020 (via Libya Alhrar TV)

Geolocation notes (7) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention vehicles being struck within a parking lot of Libyan Wings Airlines (الخطوط الجوية الليبية‎). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to these exact coordinates: 32.904136, 13.273442.

  • Reports of the incident mention vehicles being struck within a parking lot of Libyan Wings Airlines (الخطوط الجوية الليبية‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Close up of exact location.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Libya Alahrar TV

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Libya Alahrar TV

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Libya Alahrar TV

  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Libya Alahrar TV

  • Satellite image showing distribution of tags.

    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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC315

Incident date

March 19, 2020

Location

أربع شوارع زويته, Zuwaita Junction, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.815761, 13.300764 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians, three of them children, were killed and five more injured by alleged LNA shelling on Ain Zara.

UNSMIL tweeted: “Four young women and girls aged between 14-20 killed, and five others, including a 11-year-old child, were injured yesterday in a senseless indiscriminate shelling affecting a civilian neighborhood in Ain Zara, reportedly by LNA forces.”

The Field Medicine and Support Center named the victims and said: “Today, Wednesday, 3/18/2020, a notification was received at the Field Medicine and Support Center of the occurrence of indiscriminate shells in the Ain Zara area near the four streets of Zouita, after which ambulances were sent.” It add that the wounded were transferred to the Dar Al-Rahma at the Tripoli Medical Center.

Other sources quoted the Field Medicine and Support Center.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

20 years old female killed
17 years old female killed

Family members (6)

16 years old female killed
14 years old female killed
21 years old female injured
23 years old female injured
25 years old female injured
21 years old female injured

The victims were named as:

11 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Two of the victims allegedly killed by LNA shelling on Ain Zara on March 19th, 2020 (via FMSC)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The four victims victims allegedly killed by LNA shelling on Ain Zara on March 19th, 2020 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Al Zuwaita Junction (أربع شوارع زويته), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.815761, 13.300764. 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

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]