Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

LC108

Incident date

April 10, 2019

Location

قصر بن غشير, Qasr Bin Gashir, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.688716, 13.173889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various sources reported civilians were killed and wounded when a house was hit by a GNA airstrike on Qasr Bin Gashir.

War Information Division said that an aircraft launched from Misurata struck the Milad Al Shamam family home.

Sky News Arabia wrote: “Libyan National Army: Dead and wounded civilians in aerial bombardment of militias targeting a house in the area of Qasr Bin Ghashir south of Tripoli.” Libyan News App published a carbon copy of the report.

Other sources reported airstrikes in Qasr Bin Gashir but did not mention civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the alleged strike

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Qasr Bin Gashir (قصر بن غشير), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.688716, 13.173889. 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC020

Incident date

October 19, 2015

Location

اليثى, Al Leithi, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.094722, 20.1275 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five people, including children, were killed by a shell in Leithi in eastern Benghazi, according to Russia Today.

Russia Today reported: “‘The initial result of the shell that fell on Al-Leithi area is 4 dead and four wounded, mostly children under the age of 10, and there are critical cases,’ said the hospital of Al-Jalaa for surgery and accidents in Benghazi.” One of the wounded later reportedly died in the hospital.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Leithi (اليثى), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.094722, 20.1275. 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 Leithi (اليثى).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC048

Incident date

November 12, 2016

Location

قنفودة, Ganfouda, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.028594, 20.026959 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A man was killed and three of his daughters injured in an airstrike – with some reports suggested two were in fact killed.

Ean Libya reported the death of a man and the wounding of two children when airstrikes hit the Ganfouda area of Benghazi. It reported that the voices of two girls could be heard in the rubble.

Benghazi Post posted a disturbing photo on Twitter of a girl badly burned, reporting that her father was killed and her sisters still were under the rubble.

Emirate affairs reported that UAE warplanes had bombed Ganfouda, “resulting in the deaths of many civilians.” It said, “some civilian children were killed in the strike.”

A Chadian and an Egyptian worker were killed in a UAE drone strike and an LNA strike, according to Saraya Media Center who posted pictures of the two victims on its Telegram channel.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • 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.
  • Suspected attackers
    United Arab Emirates Military, Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: Burned, killed her father and sisters under the rubble! Oh God, you see the weakness of our situation and our weakness on people (Source: @benghazip)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A screenshot of the Saraya Media Center post on Telegram
  • Saraya Media center interviews Fathia who was badly injured in the strike

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Ganfouda (قنفودة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.028594, 20.026959. 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 Ganfouda (قنفودة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

United Arab Emirates Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    United Arab Emirates Military
  • United Arab Emirates Military 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
    3 – 5
  • 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.
  • Suspected attackers
    United Arab Emirates Military, Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC003a

Incident date

June 2, 2014

Location

معمل أسمنت بنغازي, Benghazi Cement Factory, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.004722, 20.134444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and five civilians were reported killed in an alleged LNA airstrike on the cement factory in Benghazi.

Almasry Alyoum wrote: An Egyptian worker named, 35-years-old, from the village of Habalsa, a member of the Al Qusiya centre in Assiut, was killed on Monday afternoon in a bombing of a cement factory in Benghazi, Libya.

The sources added that “the bombing caused the death of five, including the Egyptian worker”, pointing out that “the body of the dead will reach the village of Habalsa, Tuesday, to his funeral to the last”

Assiut Facetook only reported the death of Mansur Abu Sada Jalal as a result of the airstrike.

Other sources mentioned LNA airstrikes in Benghazi but didn’t report civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

35 years old male Via Al Masry Alyoum killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • An image shows damages reached out a civilian house in Benghazi followed an alleged LNA airstrike in Benghazi (source: @majjjedomar)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Benghazi Cement Factory (معمل أسمنت بنغازي), for which the coordinates are: 32.004722, 20.134444. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Benghazi Cement Factory (معمل أسمنت بنغازي), for which the coordinates are: 32.004722, 20.134444.

    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
    1 – 5
  • (1 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-049

Incident date

March 24, 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

A mother and her four children were reportedly killed by Gaddafi regime shelling on Misurata.

Al Manara TV noted: “Gaddafi forces on Friday continued to bomb Misurata east of Tripoli, killing one woman and her four children while a doctor at the city hospital on Thursday said 109 martyrs and 1,300 were wounded in a week in the city. ‘There is no electricity or water, and the city is starting to lack everything,’ another witness said.'”

No additional sources are known for this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (4 children1 woman)
  • 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 target
    Unknown

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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (4 children1 woman)
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC127

Incident date

April 26, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli: Airport road, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Five civilians were reported killed in an LNA airstrike on Tripoli.

Gahida Altwati tweeted that they were five young people from Janzur killed near the Airport road. She also provided their names.

There is no additional information available at the moment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Al Ajili Fakar
Age unknown male killed
Essam Al Hashemi Jannat
Age unknown male killed
Khairi Fakar
Age unknown male killed
Ahmed Fathi Alhamrouni
Age unknown male killed
Hammadi Pashaaga
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC007

Incident date

December 2, 2014

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

Between three and five civilians died and up to 15 more were wounded in an alleged LNA airstrike on a food supply storage depot in Zuwara. Three or four foreign nationals were reportedly included in the death toll.

Fox News provided the most detail on the event, reporting: A Libyan official says airstrikes have hit a foodstuffs warehouse in western Libya, killing four people and injuring 15.

Hafez Moammar, the spokesman for security forces in the Mediterranean city of Zwara, 70 miles (110 kilometres) west of Tripoli, says three of the dead were foreign nationals. He added that a second airstrike hit a chemicals factory.

He said the warplanes were operating under Khalifa Haftar, a former army general who last spring unilaterally led an offensive against Islamist militias in the eastern city of Benghazi. On Oct. 15, Haftar and the elected government joined ranks against Islamist militias. Haftar’s office subsequently said the buildings it struck contained weapons, not food.

According to the Libya Observer, One Libyan truck driver and four African workers were killed in the dignity operation airstrike that hit a food supply warehouse in Zuwara. More than 10 others were also critically injured.

Other sources said that other locations were also struck – though made no mention of civilian harm in these strikes. According to Reuters, a food supply storage area, a fishing port and another unspecified target outside of the city were hit.

RT reported on a strike in a nearby forest, which Libyan air force commander, Brigadier General Saqr al-Jaroushi, referred to as a bombing of a gathering of the Fajr Libyan militias in the Jude Daim forest in Zawya.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–15
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a man being injured following an alleged LNA airstrike in Zwara city (Source: Ean Libya)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    an image shows a man being treated at the medical centre, injured following an alleged LNA airstrike in Zwara city (Source: Ean Libya)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a man, killed following an alleged LNA airstrike in Zwara city (Source: Ean Libya)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows a man being injured following an alleged LNA airstrike in Zwara city (Source: Ean Libya)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An image shows a man being treated at the medical centre, injured following an alleged LNA airstrike in Zwara city (Source: Ean Libya)
  • Picture of the alleged strike (via Nancy Porsia)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Picture of the aftermath(via Nancy Porsia)
  • Picture of an alleged victim (via Nancy Porsia)
  • Picture of an alleged victim (via Nancy Porsia)
  • Picture of the aftermath (via Libyan™)
  • Picture of the aftermath (via Libyan™)

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
    3 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–15
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC096

Incident date

September 23, 2018

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

Four civilians, all of them from the Bin Zakri family, were reported killed because of if indiscriminate artillery shelling on their house near the Airport road in Tripoli.

Dr Suad Diab, a well-known doctor from Tripoli, her husband Ali Eltaher Bin Zakri and their two children Mohammed Ali Bin Zakri and Riham Ali Ben Zakri reportedly died after a shell hit their home just behind Libya Mall.

Ewan Libya wrote: “Media sources confirmed the death of a family of four after a shell fell on their house near Tripoli airport.”

Other sources published similar reports.

The Tripoli Protection Force militia accused the Somoud Brigade which supports the 7th Brigade of conducting the shelling.

Two sources, Radaa Abuslim and Alwasat, however, contested the claims and said the story was untrue, citing the Ministry of Health.

A local medical source told Airwars that the family’s death currently can’t be confirmed.

The case will be updated once there is more information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Dr Suad Diab
Adult female Via Ewan Libya killed
Ali Eltaher Bin Zakri
Adult male Via Ewan Libya killed
Mohammed Ali Bin Zakri
Child male Via Ewan Libya killed
Riham Ali Ben Zakri
Child female Via Ewan Libya killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    7th Brigade

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Headline: "Four members of one family were killed in clashes in the capital"

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

7th Brigade Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    7th Brigade
  • 7th Brigade position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    7th Brigade

Sources (17) [ collapse]