Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Civilian deaths alleged
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Incident Code

Lib2011-190

Incident date

October 1, 2011

Location

الحي رقم 3, Neighbourhood No. 3, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.204873, 16.600943 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A brother and a sister have allegedly been injured due to an attack by the NATO in neighbourhood number 3 in Sirte.

NATO on that day reported hitting in the vicinity of Sirte: “1 command and control node, 1 infantry and anti-aircraft artillery staging area, 2 armed vehicles, 4 armoured infantry vehicles, 1 tank.”

There is no further information currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fatima Khalifa Muhammad فاطمة خليفة محمد
4 years old female was seriously injured in the nose and scattered shrapnel in the body injured
Muhammad Khalifa Deif Allah محمد خليفة ضيف الله
Child male was seriously injured in the nose and scattered shrapnel in the body injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the third neighbourhood (الحي رقم 3) of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.204873, 16.600943. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the third neighbourhood (الحي رقم 3) of Sirte (سرت‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 command and control node, 1 infantry and anti-aircraft artillery staging area, 2 armed vehicles, 4 armoured infantry vehicles, 1 tank.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-077

Incident date

April 25, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.374457, 15.087794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 25th, 2011, Gaddafi forces shelled Misurata at dawn, firing over 40 rockets.

Al Jazeera reported that 12 civilians were killed in the attack and a further 57 injured , according to a rebel spokesman.

Airwars has to date been unable to identify additional sources in relation to this event.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    57
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misurata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.374457, 15.087794. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12
  • Civilians reported injured
    57
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-166

Incident date

September 16, 2011

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.190547, 16.571441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several civilians were allegedly killed by Rebel forces shelling on Sirte.

A UN report stated: “Thuwar forces used Grad rockets, artillery shells and RPGs, as well as small and medium calibre weapons in their assault on Sirte. They launched barrages of Grad rockets hitting residential areas like Area 1, Hay al-Dollar, and Montaza. Residents told the Commission that the area was hit by projectiles in mid-September 2011.  Civilian casualties were reported by local residents and independent observers. The Commission visited houses in the neighbourhood of Montaza, examining damage and shrapnel, consistent with the use of Grad rockets.”

@khaled19977 tweeted: “Libyan revolutionaries enter Sirte and Bani Walid, and Gaddafi Brigades members are killed.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • 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 rebel forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.190547, 16.571441. 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
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 10
  • 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 rebel forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-024

Incident date

February 26, 2011

Location

بين صبراتة وسرمان, Between Sabratha and Sarman, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.762800, 12.503712 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 21st, 2011, between 12 and 24 civilians were reported injured by Gaddafi forces between Sarman and Sibrata. Al Jazeera reported Reuters quoting the Libyan newspaper Quirna.

Al Jazeera reports “Reuters quoted a correspondent for the Libyan newspaper Qurina as saying that Gaddafi’s al-Khuwailidi al-Hamidi Brigade fired randomly in the area without specifying the circumstances of the shooting or the identity of the victims.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area in between the cities of Sabratha (صبراتة) and Sarman (سرمان). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for a middle point between these two cities are: 32.762800, 12.503712.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-213

Incident date

November 2, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.374457, 15.087794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One man died after being severely beaten while being held in custody by the Independence Brigade rebels in Tawrga’a on November 2, 2011 according to UN Report Source Page 82. A former Qadhafi soldier died on November 2, 2011 after being transferred to a hospital in Misrata. An initial autopsy report obtained by the victim’s family showed that he died as a result of a fracture in his skull.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 other protected person)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man1 other protected person)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-079

Incident date

April 27, 2011

Location

East of Steel Factory, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.336699, 15.215170 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A NATO airstrike reportedly killed between 11 and 12 rebels in a friendly fire incident near Misurata.

CNN said 11 rebels were killed and two wounded and added: “Angry survivors told Marie Colvin of The Sunday Times that they and the victims were on the coast, east of a steel plant, when a NATO plane bombed them. There were no other planes in the sky, the survivors said. NATO spokesman Eric Povel said he knew nothing about the report and would likely not learn more for several hours.”

Frian posted on Twitter: “A NATO airstrike in the besieged rebel-held city of Misurata mistakenly killed 12 Libyan rebels”

Other sources published similar posts, though with none of them specifying on which day the incident happened.

NATO itself reported hitting “2 rocket launchers; 2 artillery vehicles; 1 armoured personnel carrier” near Misurata on that day but did not mention friendly fire.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    11–12

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the shore to the east of the Steel Factory for which the generic coordinates are: 32.336699, 15.215170. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Misurata: 2 rocket launchers; 2 artillery vehicles; 1 armoured personnel carrier.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    11–12

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-154

Incident date

August 29, 2011

Location

بني وليد, Bani Walid, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

31.771461, 14.047162 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 19 civilians were allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Bani Walid.

Riyad Jaber said: “The martyr Salah Saad Barnous was martyred on the 29th of Ramadan by the NATO bombing.”

Mustafa Al Fitouri wrote in his book: “On the night of 29th-30th August Salah Sa’ed Barnous 23 years old, an university student and the only son to his mother, was killed while an airstrike targeted a building near a military building inside a residential neighborhood.”

He added: “The fifth airstrike targeted Bani Wali 180 km southwest of Tripoli – before midnight on August 29th 2011 hitting a site called Al Qate in the midtown killed 19.
Al Qate’ is a military site according two witness testimonies collected by the Libyan organisation for Human rights bin Wali branch – the site was empty during the first airstrike and the people gathered to help and all the killed are civilians.”

NATO on that day declared striking “2 Command and Control Node, 1 Military Ammo Storage Facility” near Bani Walid.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salah Saad Barnous
23 years old male killed
Muhammad Al-Fitouri Hassan
15 years old male killed
Sharaf al-Din Taher Muhammad
16 years old male killed
Abdel Hamid Belkacem Al Mahdi
20 years old male killed
Mustafa Ibrahim Faraj
23 years old male killed
Gaddafi Moftah Abdul Salam
15 years old male killed
Saad Abdullah Muhammad
11 years old male killed
Hassan Mohamed Faraj
18 years old male killed
Fathi Abdel Qader Bashir
23 years old male killed
Essam Saleh Muhammad
21 years old male killed
Hussein Ahmed Miftah
21 years old male killed
Ahmed Ibrahim Mohamed
34 years old male killed
Osama Saeed Imal
22 years old male killed
Ramadan Abed Ahadi Abdullah
40 years old male killed
Hussein Abdullah Sultan
40 years old male killed
Saad Abdullah Muhammad
Age unknown male killed
Ali Al-Osta ِAhdada
Age unknown male killed
Ayman Dhawal-Shandouli
18 years old male Born 1989 killed
Abdul Karim Sam Abdul Karim
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19
  • (4 children12 men)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • Salah Saad Barnous, allegedly killed by NATO bombing on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Riyad Jaber)
  • Salah Saad Barnous, allegedly killed by NATO bombing on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Mu’aer Awhida)
  • Salah Saad Barnous, allegedly killed by NATO bombing on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Al Awhidat)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Military camp near Bani Walid allegedly hit by NATO airstrike on August 29th, 2011 (via Bani Walid Blogspot)
  • Ayman Dhawal-Shandouli, allegedly killed by NATO airstrike on Bani Walid on August 29th, 2011 (via Taha Al Shandouli)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the vicinity of a military camp within the town of Bani Walid (بني وليد). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Bani Walid are: 31.771461, 14.047162.

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Bani Walid: 2 Command and Control Node, 1 Military Ammo Storage Facility.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19
  • (4 children12 men)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (25) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-169

Incident date

September 18, 2011

Location

الحي رقم 3, Neighbourhood No. 3, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.204873, 16.600943 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On September 18th, 2011, three children were reported to have died from NATO bombardment in the third residential area of Sirte.

Nour al-Din Nasser al-Zanki reported the deaths of two children, while a Facebook page from a father reported the death of another child on the same day.

NATO confirmed airstrikes on “1 Military Facility, 1 Command and Control Node, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher, 4 Air Missile Systems” in the vicinity of Sirte on the 18th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Iman Ibrahim Ali Bobriq
Child male killed
Hanadi Ibrahim Aboubriq
Child female killed
Najah Salah Nasr Al Shamekh Aboubriq
Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 children)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the third neighbourhood (الحي رقم 3) of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.204873, 16.600943. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the third neighbourhood (الحي رقم 3) of Sirte (سرت‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Military Facility, 1 Command and Control Node, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher, 4 Air
Missile Systems.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 children)
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]