Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Incident Code

LQ024

Incident date

February 8, 2016

Location

درنة‎, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.757426, 22.637601 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Libyan Air Force MIG-23 was shot down in the Sidi Khalid area, 35 km West of Derna, after conducting airstrikes in Derna according to various sources. Apparently, the plane had shelled the 400 neighbourhoods in retaliation for the killing of civilians on February 7th.

The Libya Observer reported that the Derna Shura Council, which had been targeted by the plane, downed it. The pilot Younis Al-Dinali made it out alive. He claimed that the jet crashed due to a technical malfunction.

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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A video shows A Libyan Air Force MIG-23 that was shot down in the Sidi Khalid area

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

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

LC101a

Incident date

February 2–10, 2019

Location

درنة, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.75591, 22.637772 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was reportedly injured by indiscrimiate artillery shelling in the Old City of Derna.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) wrote in its report: “Since 2 February, fighting in the old city of Derna intensified, and reportedly resulted in substantial numbers of civilian casualties. While it remains impossible to verify casualty numbers, the UN have received credible reports of the deaths of at least four women and three infants since last Saturday. On 9 February, the UN received reports that the LNA had taken over most of the old city, encircling houses which were still occupied. The same day, the Libyan Red Crescent, on 9 February, recovered three unidentified male corpses from inside the old city. Unconfirmed reports indicate that up to 30 individuals had been injured, including one woman who was reportedly hit by indiscriminate shelling. Reports of arbitrary detention have been received- and the Grenada prison is reportedly already hosting some 2,000 individuals from Derna, with local sources reporting that the inmates are being deprived of water and food.”

The current situation in Derna is difficult to track as the city is cut off from all communication. Occasional reports point at LNA airstrikes and artillery shelling as well as air support from Egypt and the UAE.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Derna (درنة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.75591, 22.637772. 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
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC135

Incident date

May 5, 2019

Location

جسر الزهراء, Al Zahra Bridge, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.676671, 13.055878 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One man was allegedly injured by an airstrike on Al-Swani.

FMSC reported: “An elderly man was injured by shrapnel as a result of aerial bombardment near al-Zahra bridge in the Al-Swani area.”

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

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the alleged victim

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Al Zahra bridge (جسر الزهراء) for which the generic coordinates are: 32.676671, 13.055878. 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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

LC152

Incident date

June 16, 2019

Location

مستشفى القلب تاجوراء, Tajoura Heart Hospital, Tripoli , Libya

Geolocation

32.877222, 13.396111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that three civilians were injured in an LNA airstrike on Tajoura, Tripoli, on June 16th.

According to this source, “the aerial bombardment of the residential neighbourhoods near the heart hospital caused serious damage to houses, as well as the hospital. Two women, including a pregnant woman, were injured, alongside a child.”

This source reports that those injured had been hospitalised as a result of the airstrike by LNA.

It is unclear whether the source refers to the same event that took place on June 15th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: "The aerial bombardment of the residential neighborhoods near the heart hospital caused serious damage to the houses and the hospital." (via Volcano FB)
  • The hospitalisation of those wounded in the attack on June 16th (via Volcano FB)
  • The hospitalisation of those wounded in the attack on June 16th (via Volcano FB)
  • Caption translation: "The aerial bombardment of the residential neighborhoods near the heart hospital caused serious damage to the houses and the hospital." (via Volcano FB)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of the Tajoura Heart Hospital (مستشفى القلب تاجوراء), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.877222, 13.396111. 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 type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC191

Incident date

September 8, 2019

Location

مشروع الهضبة, Hadaba project, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.838333, 13.175278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed by indiscriminate shelling near the Hadaba project in Tripoli.

Tk Yahrouq Kl shy said: “A shell landed on the house of the Al Mishy family in the Al Hadaba project (Mashrou’ Al Hadaba), leading to the death of Abdulsalam Al Mishy.”

Local reports of fighting between the GNA and LNA point at one of the forces as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdulsalam Al Mishy
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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 vicinity of The 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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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

LC223

Incident date

October 22, 2019

Location

مشروع الهضبة, Hadaba project, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.838333, 13.175278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly injured by indiscriminate shelling on the Hadaba project in Tripoli.

The Ambulance Services Libya said: “The driver Abdul Basset al-Muqtaf, who was just injured by shrapnel in the head after rescuing some families who were hit by indiscriminate shells on their homes in the area of the project.”

Al Wasat published a similar report.

Local reports of fighting 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Victim being treated after being injured by shelling on Tripoli on October 22nd, 2019 (via Libya Ambulance Services)
  • Victim being treated after being injured by shelling on Tripoli on October 22nd, 2019 (via Libya Ambulance Services)

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC249

Incident date

November 28, 2019

Location

أم الأرانب: الشركة الصينية, Umm Al Aranib: Chinese company, Murzuq, Libya

Geolocation

26.146291, 14.736303 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to eleven civilians were allegedly killed by an LNA or Emirati airstrike on Umm Al Aranib.

The Libya Observer said: “The Congress of Libya’s Tebu tribespeople has condemned in a statement the airstrikes of Khalifa Haftar’s forces on Um Al-Aranib on Thursday, killing a whole family – mother and her six children.”

Ummm Al Aranib Channel also wrote a mother and her six children were killed.

Wolfram Lacher said: “Drone strikes (presumably UAE) on Umm al-Araneb, following earlier drone strikes this morning in Tassawa on the force that took over El Feel yesterday.

One of the Umm al-Araneb strikes killed 6-7 members of a single family, most of them children.”

Libya Alahrar TV reported nine children and two women killed.

According to Afrigate News, strikes took place near the Chinese buildings. It did not mention civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (6–9 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Picture of a victim allegedly killed in an LNA or Emirati strike on Umm Al Aranib on November 28th, 2019 (via Umm Al Aranib Channel)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another picture of a victim allegedly killed in an LNA or Emirati strike on Umm Al Aranib on November 28th, 2019 (via Umm Al Aranib channel)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another picture of a victim allegedly killed in an LNA or Emirati strike on Umm Al Aranib on November 28th, 2019 (via Umm Al Aranib channel)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another picture of a victim allegedly killed in an LNA or Emirati strike on Umm Al Aranib on November 28th, 2019 (via Umm Al Aranib channel)
  • A vehicle reportedly damaged in an LNA or Emirati strike on Umm Al Aranib on November 28th, 2019 (via Umm Al Aranib channel)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child being treated after allegedly being injured an LNA or Emirati strike on Umm Al Aranib on November 28th, 2019 (via Umm Al Aranib channel)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another child being treated after allegedly being injured in an LNA or Emirati strike on Umm Al Aranib on November 28th, 2019 (via Umm Al Aranib channel)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another child being treated after allegedly being injured in an LNA or Emirati strike on Umm Al Aranib on November 28th, 2019 (via Umm Al Aranib channel)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Another child being treated after allegedly being injured in an LNA or Emirati strike on Umm Al Aranib on November 28th, 2019 (via Umm Al Aranib channel)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Chinese company (الشركة الصينية) in Umm Al Aranib (أم الأرانب). The coordinates for the Chinese company are: 26.146291 14.736303.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

United Arab Emirates Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United Arab Emirates Military
  • United Arab Emirates Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (6–9 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • 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 attackers
    Libyan National Army, United Arab Emirates Military

Sources (15) [ collapse]