Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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

Incident Code

Lib2011-056

Incident date

March 31, 2011

Location

دوار بين كرزاز و كوبري اقزير, Roundabout between Kerzaz and Askir Bridge , Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.336090, 15.097974 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On March 31st, 2011 between six and seven civilians were killed on the roundabout between the Karzaz neighborhood and Igzir bridge in Misrata by Gaddafi forces. Two civilians were children, seven year old Amma ‘Adel al-Asta and 18 month old Ru’a ‘Adel al-Asta. An Amnesty report and Facebook posts report on the deaths, with another tweet from Arab nations reporting another five deaths.

Amnesty reported on the death of two children, stating “seven-year-old Amna ‘Adel al-Asta and her 18-month-old sister Ru’a were fatally wounded on 31 March after their family fled their home in Kerzaz”.

Multiple sources from Facebook posts and tweets reported on the other casualties.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

7 years old female killed
1 years old female killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown female killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a roundabout between the neighbourhood of Kerzaz (كرزاز) and Askir Bridge (كوبري اقزير). Research shows multiple roundabouts between these two locations, therefore the coordinates given are of a generic point in between these locations at: 32.336090, 15.097974. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention a roundabout between the neighbourhood of Kerzaz (كرزاز) and Askir Bridge (كوبري اقزير). Research shows multiple roundabouts between these two locations.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-059

Incident date

April 1–2, 2011

Location

ككلة, Kikla, Libya

Geolocation

32.062768, 12.6951295 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Pro Gaddafi forces bombed the town of Kikla for two consecutive days, on both April 1st and 2nd 2011 by airstrikes or artillery shelling, which resulted in 30 civilians being killed and dozens being injured according to local and international reports.

France 24 wrote: “One of the residents, who asked not to be named, said, ‘Gaddafi forces have randomly fired dozens of Grad-type shells at the city. The bombing has continued since Friday.’

‘More than 30 people were killed and dozens were injured. Many families left the city. But we have problems evacuating the elderly,’ he added.”

@libya2p0 tweeted similar information.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kikla (ككلة‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.062768, 12.6951295. 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    30
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Other, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-057

Incident date

April 1, 2011

Location

مرسى البريقة, Brega, Al Wahat, Libya

Geolocation

30.411123, 19.570076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and seven civilians were reported killed in a NATO airstrike in the outskirts of Brega.

The BBC wrote: “A direct hit on an ammunition truck and trailer in a street in Zawia el Argobe sent a hail of shrapnel into nearby houses, [Dr Refardi] said. Four of the dead were female, including three children from the same family, aged between 12 and 16, the BBC’s Ben Brown reports from Brega.

“Dr Refardi said he had spoken to the family of the girls who had been killed and ‘there was no anger’ at the coalition forces. ‘If these tanks had entered Ajdabiya it would have been a massacre,’ he said. ‘They [the Libyan people] are expecting more than this, because they know the Gaddafi forces are using civilians as a shield.’

“Nato officials told the BBC they were making inquiries ‘down our operations chain to find out if indeed there is any information on the operation side that would support this claim’. Later, Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said six civilians had been killed by the ‘immoral’ air strike, and described it as a ‘crime against humanity’.”

The BBC added that 25 people were injured in the attack, while RT Arabic said most of those harmed were children.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (3–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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 attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Brega (البريقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.411123, 19.570076. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • (3–4 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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 attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-058

Incident date

April 1, 2011

Location

مرسى البريقة, Brega, Al Wahat, Libya

Geolocation

30.411123, 19.570076 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between ten and 13 rebel fighters were reportedly killed in friendly fire by a NATO airstrike near Brega. This included three medical students, whom Airwars has classed as non combatants.

While Al Jazeera provided the lowest death toll at ten, the BBC reported: “At least 13 people are reported to have been killed when a coalition plane flying over Libya fired on a rebel convoy between Brega and Ajdabiya on Friday, the rebels say.

Doctors at a hospital in Ajdabiya told the BBC that three medical students were among the dead. Nato said it was looking into the incident but that it was very difficult to verify details about what happened.”

Apparently the aircraft struck because “the rebels were on their way to Brega when they fired into the air with an anti-aircraft gun, the BBC’s Nick Springate reported from the scene of the attack.”

The New York Times also said 13 rebels were killed and quoted two injured fighters.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Brega (البريقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.411123, 19.570076. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 attacker
    NATO forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-060

Incident date

April 5, 2011

Location

شارع طرابلس ومنطقة الميناء, Tripoli Street and the Port, Misrata, Libya

Geolocation

32.369469, 15.083981 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 5th 2011, two civilians were reported killed and 26 injured as a result of artillery shelling by Gaddafi forces on the city of Misurata. The bombing was said to have started at 10am.

According to Al Jazeera, “A Libyan rebel said today, Wednesday, that two people were killed and 26 wounded in artillery shelling launched by the security brigades loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi on the city of Misrata.”

Another rebel man said, “The pro-Gaddafi forces bombed Misrata, but the bombing has now stopped … The attacks were mainly around the port and the Tripoli Street area near the city centre.”

The man, Abd al-Salam, said in a phone call to Reuters that Misrata was bombed by tanks, artillery and mortar shells, mainly in Tripoli Street and the Mina area, noting that the bombing began at ten in the morning yesterday and stopped at five in the afternoon the same day.

There is currently no further information available.

The incident occured at 10:00:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    26
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention strikes around the port (الميناء‎) area and Tripoli street (شارع طرابلس) in the city of Misurata (مصراتة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the port of Misurata are: 32.363523, 15.218700. The generic coordinates for Tripoli street are: 32.369469, 15.083981.

  • Reports of the incident mention strikes around the port (الميناء‎) area and Tripoli street (شارع طرابلس) in the city of Misurata (مصراتة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    26
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-061

Incident date

April 6, 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 6th 2011, Gaddafi forces launched an airstrike or artillery shelling on Misurata in the evening that resulted in the reported deaths of five people and the injuring of an additional 25.

Al Jazeera said that five people were killed and 25 others wounded in the bombing on areas controlled by the rebels in Misurata, the third-largest city in Libya. The port was temporarily closed as a result.

@egyptynewsnet also said five were killed.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ 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
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    25
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-063

Incident date

April 7, 2011

Location

القوارشة, Al Qawarsheh, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.112582, 20.082151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 7th, 2011, the body of an unidentified man was found in the Al Qawarsheh neighborhood of Benghazi, suspected to have been killed by Libyan rebel forces. A UN report cites the death of the man.

The UN report states “the General Prosecution in Benghazi indicating that a body of an unidentified black man found in the Kawarsha outskirts of Benghazi was brought on 7 April 2011 with gunshot wounds to the back of the head.”

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 man)
  • 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 neighborhood of Al Qawarsheh (القوارشة) in the city of Benghazi (بنغازي), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.021389, 20.073056. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighborhood of Al Qawarsheh (القوارشة) in the city of Benghazi (بنغازي).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-062

Incident date

April 7, 2011

Location

اجدابيا, Ajdabiya, Al Wahat, Libya

Geolocation

30.760665, 20.220516 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to 13 rebel fighters were reportedly killed either by a NATO airstrike in a friendly fire incident, or a Gaddafi regime strike, near Ajdabiya.

CNN posted on Twitter that “an airstrike killed at least three people.” The Telegraph showed a picture of three injured fighters. Meanwhile VOA said four rebels had been killed and 14 more wounded.

The BBC put the death toll at 13. It also mentioned that some rebels were contesting the strike was conducted by NATO: “Meanwhile, a different rebel spokesman said Thursday’s fatal air strike was carried out by pro-government forces rather than by Nato.

‘This was not a Nato air-strike; on the contrary, it was conducted by Gaddafi’s brigades using SIAI Marchetti SF-260 planes,’ Col Ahmad Bani told al-Arabiya television.”‘

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    NATO forces, Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–13
  • Belligerents reported injured
    14

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Picture of injured rebel fighters (via The Telegraph)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ajdabiya (اجدابيا), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.760665, 20.220516. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

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

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    NATO forces, Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–13
  • Belligerents reported injured
    14

Sources (7) [ collapse]