Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

LC017b

Incident date

May 23, 2015

Location

زعفران, Zaafran, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.206944, 16.549167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A father and one or two of his daughters were reported killed as a result of an alleged GNC/Libya Dawn airstrike on Sirte.

Most sources claim that a father with his two daughters were killed in an airstrike on their family home. However, some sources reported that only one of his daughters died and they were in fact in their car.

Tajwara News reported: “The terrorist aeroplane which belongs to Libya Dawn targeted a house in Zaafran residential neighbourhood, killing a father and his daughters.”

Afrigate News posted on Twitter that the “Sirte hospital receives three killed by mistake by Libya Dawn plane in the Zaafran area.”

Rawadfree1 wrote: “Shelling by an aircraft in the Zaafran area of Sirte, shrapnel hitting a car causing its burning, the death of a father and his daughter and another girl wounded.”

Ean Libya published a similar take: “Military aircraft from Libya Dawn hit a car in the Zaafran area, which led to the death of father and daughter.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Massoud Hamali
Adult male via @Libyan_01 killed
Fatima Massoud Hamali
1994 years old female via @Libyan_01 killed
Madiha Massoud Hamali
1996 years old female via @Libyan_01 killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Shelling of an air force in the Zafran area of Sirte, shrapnel hits a car causing its burning, the death of father and daughter and wounding another girl (Source: @rawadfree1)
  • Another picture of the scorched car (via rawadfree1)
  • Translation: Martyr Massoud Hamali. He died with his two daughters by bombing Fajr Libya flight today And news of the death of his third daughter Fatima (Source: @cleobatraa)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: your blood is our blood... RIP my dear (Source: Ibrahim Al-Himal, the victims relative)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Zaafran (زعفران), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.206944, 16.549167. 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 Zaafran (زعفران).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

General National Congress (GNC) Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    General National Congress (GNC)
  • General National Congress (GNC) position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1–2 children1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (13) [ collapse]

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

LC017

Incident date

May 11, 2015

Location

طبرق, Tobruk, Butnan, Libya

Geolocation

32.074003, 23.983199 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to international and local sources, a Turkish ship was hit by both airstrikes and artillery shelling from the LNA. A deputy captain was reportedly killed in the attack, and another crew member injured.

The incident took place 16km off the coast from Tobruk on the way to Derna. Al Jazeera quoted the second captain of the tanker Zafar Kalayegy who opposed the government’s statement (see below) and said the ship “was attacked without any prior notice and any warning.”

According to Abwaba, “the Libyan army bombed a Turkish tanker off the coast of Tobruk on its way to the coast of Derna. The Libyan air force carried out a military operation targeting the elements of the Da’dash organisation, which controls Derna, in northeastern Libya, and continued until Monday morning, Libyan sources told Al-Bawaba News. The source added that Libyan naval forces warned the Turkish ship to sail in the direction of the coast of Derna but did not respond, as confirmed by the military spokesman of the Libyan army in a press statement this morning, where he said that the Turkish ship was bombed after warning not to approach Derna.”

Turkey described the attack as “despicable”, while a report by Azamil said that “the internationally-recognised Libyan government confirmed that it had bombed a Turkish ship off the Libyan coast after warning it was approaching and killing a crew member”.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) issued a statement condemning the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a tanker being struck 16km from the shoreline of Tobruk (طبرق) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Tobruk are: 32.074003, 23.983199.

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC016

Incident date

May 5, 2015

Location

درنة, Darnah, Libya

Geolocation

32.76704, 2263669 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child died in an alleged LNA airstrike on Darnah, according to local media.

The Libya Observer reported: “A baby from the Al-Harir family was killed in a dignity operation airstrike in Darnah. The airstrike targeted the Shabia apartment buildings causing extensive damage to Musa Al-Harir’s apartment and destroying cars parked on the street below.”

Libya’s Channel also reported that the alleged LNA airstrike hit a residential building in the Ghazi neighbourhood of Darnah. The site said that three civilians from one family had been injured, but didn’t give any names.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Obwa Musa Al Harir
Child female via Mohamed Elfatih El Darnawi) killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows the house targeted followed an alleged LNA airstrike on Derna which led to killing a child (Source: Libya's Channel)
  • Pictures of the aftermath (via TAbugharsa)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows Obwa Musa Al Harir, killed followed an alleged LNA airstrike on her house in Derna (Source: Mohamed Elfatih El Darnawi)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Darnah (درنة) for which the generic coordinates are: 32.76704, 22.63669. 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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ007a

Incident date

April 24, 2015

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Airwars assessment

Dawa Alhaq reported a GNC/Libya Dawn airstrike in Sirte likely resulting in civilian harm: “A military aircraft belonging to the ‘Dawn of Libya’ militia, backed by Libya’s brothers who control Tripoli, launched air strikes on Thursday night on sites in the city of Sirte.
‘A Libyan warplane launched several air strikes on the sites of the Islamic state in the city on Thursday evening,’ a local official in Sirte said on condition of anonymity.
Among the targets targeted by the fighter, the complex is Ouagadougou, the centre of the city, which the fighters of the state take command and control headquarters.”

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
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (1) [ collapse]

General National Congress (GNC) Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    General National Congress (GNC)
  • General National Congress (GNC) 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
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ007

Incident date

April 1, 2015

Location

الزنتان, Zintan, Airport, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

31.771818, 12.248748 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to several local sources, GNC/Libya Dawn planes bombed Zintan airport as well as the nearby village of Rujban. Most sources reported material damage, though there was no mention of civilian harm.

Zintan Airport spokesperson Omar Maatouk, speaking to Libya Herald, said that the front of the airport building was damaged by the seven shells fired. He also said that there had been no civilian casualties.

The report said: “There were no casualties at Zintan, Matoq said, adding that a number of nearby houses had been hit by shrapnel. He later said that the aircraft used was an Aero L-39 jet trainer and named the pilots as from Ghariyan and the Tripoli suburb of Fashloum.”

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
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Militias Dawn of Libya bombard residential areas in Rajaban, forcing the village to suspend the study. Libya (via Libyan™)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Libyan™)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Libyan™)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Libyan™)
  • Another picture of the aftermath (via 988nabed)
  • Another picture of the aftermath (via 988nabed)

General National Congress (GNC) Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    General National Congress (GNC)
  • General National Congress (GNC) 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
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (22) [ 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

LC015

Incident date

March 24, 2015

Location

ام الرشراش, Umm Al Rashrash, Murqub, Libya

Geolocation

32.2891782, 13.6329552 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An LNA airstrike reportedly hit a Libya Dawn camp in Tarhuna. While most sources reported no civilians and only a few Libya Dawn fighters dead, two sources said that eight internally displaced Tawergha were killed in the attack.

Middle East Eye quoted a Libya Dawn spokesperson: “Eight Libyan civilians died in the strike. Sadly this is their strategy, to kill civilians and claim to the international community that they are after weapons.”

According to Akhbar, a refugee camp was struck and not a weapons depot. The source reported that “a plane of Libyan-backed forces loyal to the Libyan government launched a raid on the town of Tarhouna near Tripoli, which it said targeted a weapons depot. But but the controlling government in the capital said it had hit a refugee camp and killed eight civilians.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • 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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Dozens of people were killed after the air force bombed the sites of Dawn of Libya in Tarhona (Source: @wady_dynar)
  • Translation: # Libya: Two people killed in aerial bombardment of aircraft # Haftar on the town of Tarhona southeast of # Tripoli (Source: @almokhtsar)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an airstrike targeting the Umm Al Rashrash (ام الرشراش)  area south of Tarhuna (ترهونة), Libya, for which the generic coordinates are: 32.2891782, 13.6329552. Based on the limited information and satellite imagery 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (28) [ collapse]