On March March 19th 2011, forces loyal to Gaddafi bombed the town of Misurata with either airstrikes or artillery shelling, which resulted to up to 50 civilians killed and 84 wounded.

Al Bayan reported that 25 people were killed and 70 wounded during the bombing by the Libyan leader’s forces in the city of Misurata, which at that time was controlled by the armed opposition. Protesters and residents in the town of Misrata said forces loyal to Gaddafi bombed the town with heavy weapons. Tariq, a doctor from Misrata who lives in Britain, said. “There is heavy bombing in the town. They cannot send any ambulances. They [locals] believe it is artillery and tank shelling, not airstrikes. It is very worrying.”

The attack began hours after the UN Security Council decided to impose a no-fly zone over Libya and launch military attacks on Gaddafi forces to protect civilians, and before Tripoli announced any cessation of military operations.

According to @abanidrees, “The death toll from Misurata was more than 50 martyrs and 84 wounded as a result of the violent bombardment by the Gaddafi forces, quoting an eyewitness to Al-Jazeera English”

The incident occured in the morning.

On February 20th and 21st 2011, Gaddafi forces launched artillery and airstrikes on Tripoli, injuring dozens and killing over 200, according to local claims. Agence France Presse quoted witnesses reporting massacres in the neighbourhoods of Fashalom and Tajoura. Other eyewitnesses reported helicopter bombings in the Souq al-Jumaa area.

A video showed helicopters over the skies of Tripoli, dated the 21st. Other videos showed the injured in Tripoli’s central hospital, dated the 20th. Mercenary forces were reported to be among the actors involved in these strikes in Tripoli, occupying al-Jumhuriya street in Fashalom.

A UN investigation later stated that “doctors informed the Commission that between 20-21 February 2011 over 200 bodies were brought into morgues”.

Adel Mohamad Saleh was quoted in Al-Jazeera as reporting over 250 dead, while the BBC spoke of reports of 150 fatalities in Tripoli.

A Facebook post from the group ‘If the people want their freedom’ stated: “On 21-02-2011, between nine and eleven at night, anti-aircraft shells were flying in the sky, when the Khamis Brigade was hit with anti-aircraft guns in the Fashlum area in Tripoli. These anti-aircraft machine guns had also struck at the dwellings, the doors of the dwellings, and whatever”.

One source stated that over 700 were killed overall, although this number was not reflected by any other sources.

The local time of the incident is unknown.