Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

Lib2011-118

Incident date

June 24, 2011

Location

الدافنية, Al Dafiniya, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

32.390033, 14.7988488 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Rocket fire allegedly launched by Gaddafi’s forces struck the Al Dafiniya area and killed between one and four people and injured between nine and ten.

A Facebook post from News sarkhat Libya alleges that those killed and injured were rebels while a tweet from @shababalnhda alleges that they were civilians.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–10

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Dafiniyah (الدفنية), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.390033, 14.7988488. 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 Dafiniyah (الدفنية).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–10

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-099

Incident date

May 28, 2011

Location

بني وليد, Bani Walid, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

31.75805, 13.983513 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 28th, 2011, a demonstrated near the market in Bani Walid lead to the death of 13 civilians, who were shot by Gaddafi aligned forces.

A UN report from 2011 reported the casualty, stating “Together with 12 other young men, an injured man sought refuge in a room on the second floor of a nearby commercial building. Qadhafi forces, reportedly from the Al Fateh Brigade, stormed the building. One of the demonstrators told the Commission that his brother was amongst those who sought refuge in the building.  He spoke to his brother by phone, trying to reassure him. While he was speaking to his brother, the phone went dead. The interviewee was informed later that all the men in the room had been shot dead. One of the soldiers of the Al-Fateh Brigade, [003], was later arrested by the thuwar. While he was in custody, the witness had the opportunity to question him. The soldier said that he had been ordered to reassure the men in the room that they would be safe. The soldier also said that the young men had a number of rifles with them but they had no ammunition. The men had then been shot..”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    13

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town Bani Walid (بني وليد), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.75805, 13.983513. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    13

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-089

Incident date

May 7, 2011

Location

زاوية البقول, Zawiyat Al Baqoul, Yafran, Libya

Geolocation

31.989587, 12.430859 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were allegedly killed by Libyan rebel forces in Zawiyat Al Baqoul.

The UN’s investigation into Libya 2011 later reported the following: “The Commission also received reports of killings of members of other groups perceived to be Qadhafi loyalists, which typically took place in the immediate aftermath of the thuwar gaining control of the area.  The Zintan thuwar, who accuse the Mashashiya community of providing support to the Qadhafi forces during the latter’s siege and shelling of the Nafusa Mountains, have carried out attacks against the entire community including unlawful killings.

“For example, an 82 year-old Mashashiya man from Zawiyat al-Baqoul was shot dead at his home on 7 May 2011, reportedly by thuwar from Zintan.  Regarding another incident, the Commission was informed by two sources interviewed separately that two Mashashiya brothers were shot at point-blank range after capture by Zintan thuwar in front of another brother.  These incidents are examined in greater detail in Annex I, sect. III.F.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • UN
    • English
    • English

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Zawiyat Al Baqoul (زاوية البقول), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.989587, 12.430859. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan rebel forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Libyan rebel forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • UN
    • English
    • English

Incident Code

LQ047

Incident date

June 17, 2017

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.105045, 20.086239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two Facebook sources claimed that 13 “foreign airstrikes” had struck Benghazi, but seem to have copied one another on the information.

There were no known public reports of civilian harm at the time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ030

Incident date

May 29, 2016

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.075302, 19.8042297 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

LNA fighter jets targeted a vessel west of Qamins 25 km west of Benghazi according to the official LNA Facebook page.
Social media sources added that the LNA also launched raids on Qawarsheh, Bosnib and Sabri.

The status of any civilian crew onboard the vessel is unknown. 

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 (4) [ 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ010

Incident date

September 25, 2015

Location

درنة الفتايح, Al Fatayah, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.733611, 22.645278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The LNA reportedly targeted the Shura Council and ISIS with 25 airstrikes at dawn in the eastern part of the city.

According to Libya 24 News, “a plane belonging to the Libyan air force struck at dawn today sites belonging to the Libyan branch of the Islamic State organization ‘Daesh’ east of the city of Derna, amid ongoing clashes.”

Despite the significant number of reported airstrikes, there were no local published 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
    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]

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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ002

Incident date

October 18, 2014

Location

بنغازي‎, Bosnib, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.035556, 20.048333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several local sources reported that the LNA targeted the Shura Council in Benghazi – though one source blamed Egypt. The strike reportedly hit the area in the west of Benghazi called Bosnib.

Nöor çoröğlü posted pictures of destroyed civilian homes due to the strikes but did not mention civilian harm.

According to @zicotarhuni, the Egyptian air force bombed the Bosnib area.

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 attackers
    Egyptian Military, Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: the target of Bu-Utni by the LNA (source: Alzarook_Nabbos)
  • Translation: Images of destroyed civilian homes (source: tweeted by Nöor çoröğlü)

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military 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

  • 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 attackers
    Egyptian Military, Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC198

Incident date

September 13, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎: خزانات النفط, Tripoli: Oil tanks, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.790556, 13.148889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was reportedly injured because of LNA shelling on Tripoli.

The GNA Burkan Al Ghadab operation claimed: “The child Osama Mohammed Hamza was injured by shrapnel in the neck as a result of the indiscriminate shelling of the militias of the war criminal Hafter behind oil tanks and was transferred to the field hospital for treatment.”

There is currently no additional information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Osama Mohammed Hamza
Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Child receeiving treatment after being injured in alleged LNA strike on Tripoli on September 13th, 2019 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention oil tanks (خزانات النفط) in Tripoli (طرابلس‎). The coordinates for the oil tanks are: 32.790556 13.148889. 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]