Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LQ059

Incident date

October 23, 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

Egyptian planes destroyed a convoy of eight cars before it crossed the border from Libya. Reportedly the cars were loaded with weapons and belonged to an unknown extremist militia.

Al Hayat reported the following: “Army spokesman Colonel Tamer al-Rifai said that  Egyptian forces are conducting sweeps and raiding to the mountains and mountainous areas to track the terrorist elements executing attacks in the oases area, in conjunction with continuing efforts to protect the state borders in all strategic directions. He explained that the air force thwarted a new attempt to penetrate the western border, and resulted in the destruction of eight SUVs loaded with quantities of weapons and ammunition and high explosives, and the elimination of terrorist elements inside.”

There were no known public reports of civilian harm during the event.

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
    Egyptian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

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

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ020

Incident date

December 10, 2015

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

Twitter sources reported airstrikes in the Benghazi neighbourhoods of Leithi, Al-Halis, Al-Nahr, Tika and Bouatni.

According to @LibyasChannel, “the Air Force continued to target the sites of terrorists in Al-Leithi and Alnahr road and Hawari and the western axis in the vicinity of the region of Alhalis”.

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

Sources (6) [ 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ006

Incident date

January 14, 2015

Location

بنغازي‎, port, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.110556, 20.043889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various sources reported that the LNA warplane attacked a trawler allegedly loaded with gasoline outside Benghazi. There were no reports of civilian harm.

According to Sky News, a military official said that a Libyan aircraft belonging to the internationally recognised government (HoR) attacked a fishing boat carrying a shipment of gasoline to the port of Benghazi this week after suspected of carrying supplies to militants.

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC137

Incident date

May 8, 2019

Location

الطويشة, Altwaisha, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.639449, 13.111109 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and three medics where reportedly injured in an LNA attack on an ambulance in Qasr Bin Gashir, possibly with artillery.

OCHA published a statement on the incident saying: “An armoured ambulance vehicle carrying the Director of the Ambulance and Emergency Medical Services was directly attacked yesterday in Twaisha area in Qasr bin Ghashir neighbourhood, reportedly by LNA-affiliated fighters, leaving the Director in a critical health condition and further injuring two paramedics.”

Libya Alahrar TV and Manarat Tripoli also mentioned the injury of the Director but did not mention the other victims.

The Ambulance and Emergency Medical Services later published a statement itself, confirming the director was injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nasser Daou
Adult male Director of the Ambulance and Emergency Medical Services injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Video the medic's amputated leg

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Altwaisha (الطويشة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.639449, 13.111109. 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 Altwaisha (الطويشة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC218

Incident date

October 13, 2019

Location

Yarmouk camp, قصر بن غشير, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.774430, 13.205566 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Medical personnel was reported killed by an LNA airstrike near the Yarmouk camp in Qasr Bin Gashir.

Libya Alahrar TV reported: “Hafter warplanes bombard a field hospital in Khallet Al Furjan, leaving dead and wounded.

The field commander in the axis of the airport road, Mohammed bin Yusuf confirmed the shelling of the pro-Haftar planes on a field hospital near the Yarmouk camp in the early morning hours of Sunday.

Bin Yusuf said in a statement to Libya Al Ahrar, that the raid resulted in the deaths of medical staff between nurses and doctors, pointing out that the current situation is relatively calm.”

According to Ewan Libya and 218 TV the LNA had confirmed airstrikes in the area on that day without mentioning civilian harm.

There is currently no more information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 healthcare_personnel)
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Yarmook Camp (مخيم اليرموك), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.774430, 13.205566. 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
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 healthcare_personnel)
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC204a

Incident date

September 27, 2019

Location

مقر كتيبة النواصي, Nawasi headquarters, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.88968, 13.16278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly killed in an airstrike by the LNA or a foreign fighter plane on Tripoli. However, the combatant status of the victims is contested.

Al Mashhad said: “A spokesman for the Ministry of Health of the GNA in Tripoli said that two civilians, one of them an employee of the Ministry of Health, were killed in an air strike on Friday morning targeting the headquarters of Al Nawasi battalion of the Ministry of Interior of the National Accord government.”

Libya Observer also claimed they were civilians and named the victims: “Witnesses reported that windows to residential buildings nearby the targeted site were broken, due to the force of the explosion.

The Ministry of Health confirmed the death of two people in the attack; one of them was a staff member of the ministry, who was killed by the shrapnel of the shelling.

The head of the ministry’s crisis and emergency committee, Fawzi Onis, said the employee at the ministry’s office, Marwan Jernazi, was killed on the line of duty while treating the patients and injured.”

Hona Souq Al-Khmies and Address Libya said the victims were in fact members of the GNA-affiliated Nawasi battalion

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Al Dernawi
Adult male Combatant status unclear killed
Marwan Jernazi
Adult male Combatant status unclear killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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
    Libyan National Army, Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Smoke rising after an airstrike on the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Smoke rising after an airstrike on the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via Libya Observer)
  • Smoke rising after an airstrike on the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via Libya Witness)
  • Smoke rising after an airstrike on the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via Libya Witness)
  • Smoke rising after an airstrike on the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via Libya Witness)
  • Smoke rising after an airstrike on the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)
  • Smoke rising after an airstrike on the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)
  • Smoke rising after an airstrike on the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via Burkan Al Ghadab)
  • Destruction at the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade after an airstrike in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via 218TV)
  • Destruction at the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade after an airstrike in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via 218TV)
  • Destruction at the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade after an airstrike in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via 218TV)
  • Destruction at the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade after an airstrike in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via 218TV)
  • Destruction at the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade after an airstrike in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via 218TV)
  • Destruction at the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade after an airstrike in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via 218TV)
  • Destruction at the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade after an airstrike in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via 218TV)
  • Destruction at the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade after an airstrike in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via 218TV)
  • Destruction at the headquarters of the Nawasi brigade after an airstrike in Tripoli on September 27th, 2019 (via 218TV)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Nawasi Headquaters (مقر كتيبة النواصي), located in the vicinity of the Daewoo building, for which the exact coordinates are: 32.88968, 13.16278.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Nawasi Headquaters (مقر كتيبة النواصي), located in the vicinity of the Daewoo building.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Evidence of the strike can be seen in a comparison of satellite imagery available. On the left an image from August 10th, 2019, and on the right an image from October 5th, 2019.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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
    Libyan National Army, Unknown
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC258a

Incident date

December 22, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli: Airport road, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.806027, 13.139814 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was reportedly injured by shelling near the Airport road in Tripoli.

Libyan Crimes Watch said: “On December 22, a child was injured by shrapnel in several areas of his body, as a result of a shell landing near his house on the airport road.”

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

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or 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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the road leading to the airport in Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.806027, 13.139814. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the road leading to the airport in Tripoli (طرابلس‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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 and/or 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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC304

Incident date

February 27, 2020

Location

الرواجح, Al Rawajeh, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.727222, 13.665833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians from one family were allegedly killed by a Turkish drone strike on Castelverde.

Akhbar Libya 24 said: “The Libyan National Army confirmed the killing of an entire family of five people as a result of an airstrike launched by a Turkish plane on the Al-Rawajeh area near Qarah Bulli, east of the capital, Tripoli.

‘Five victims of one family, the father, the mother, and the sons, were killed as a result of the targeting of their car by a drone in the Al-Rawajeh area on the outskirts of the capital, Tripoli, said the spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the army, Major General Ahmed Al-Mismari, in a Facebook post.”

Other sources also reported five victims.

Libya Witness said the drone took off from Mitiga airport in Tripoli.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Adult male Father killed
Adult female Mother killed
Child male Son killed
Child female Daughter killed
Child female Daughter killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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.

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Video showing the car allegedly targeted in the strike
  • Picture of allegedly shelling on Castelverde on February 27th, 2020 (via Tk Yahroug Kl shy)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Rawajeh (الرواجح), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.727222, 13.665833. 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 Rawajeh (الرواجح).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (3 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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.

Sources (6) [ collapse]