Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Libya
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Incident Code

LC269

Incident date

January 1, 2020

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 reported killed and three others including a 70-year-old woman were injured by shrapnel in alleged LNA shelling on the Hadaba Project area in Tripoli, Libya on January 1st, 2020, according to local sources.

The fatality was identified as Issam Wanis Al-Drou’i Al-Warfalli and sources reported that the four civilians might belong to the same family and the mortar had hit their building.

According to the GNA-led Burkan Al Ghadab operation, two young men aged 25 were among the wounded.

Libya Observer reported that “Dozens of indiscriminate shells fell during the past two days on Al-Hadaba neighborhood and Crown Prince Street, as clashes continue to flare up in these neighborhoods.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Issam Wanis Al-Drou’i Al-Warfalli عصام ونيس الدروعي الورفلي
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Old woman injured in the attack on Mashrou’ Al Hadaba allegedly by Haftar forces (via Libya Observer)
  • Issam Wanis Al-Drou’i Al-Warfalli was reported killed in the strike on the Hadaba project area on January 1st (via Tk Yahrouq kl shy)
  • Another picture of the woman injured on January 1st in the Hadaba project area (via Burkan Al Ghadab operation)
  • Another picture of a victim injured on January 1st in the Hadaba project area (via Burkan Al Ghadab operation)

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.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC299

Incident date

February 18, 2020

Location

ميناء طرابلس, Tripoli: Port, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.90666, 13.186038 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were reportedly killed and five more injured by an LNA artillery strike on the Tripoli port area.

Al Wasat said: “According to the media center for Operation Burkan Al Gahdab, Fawzi Onis, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health in the Al-Wefaq government, announced the death of three civilians and the injury of five others.

Witnesses confirmed that shells fell on the main port of Tripoli earlier today, and one of the owners of shops near the port indicated in a statement to the Al Wasat that smoke was rising from several sites that were bombed, benefiting that there were ‘news of the burning of a boat that was anchored in the port.'”

Other sources also reported the death toll provided by the Ministry of Health.

218TV said: “A source familiar with 218 exclusive details revealed the truth about the victims of the National Army’s targeting of the Port of Tripoli last Tuesday, confirming that 3 people were killed, two of them were Turkish officers, one of whom was of high rank, in addition to a Syrian fighter, who were in the Port of Tripoli at the moment of his targeting.”

It added: “In search of confirmation of the news and details provided by the source to 218, the website herdem newes referred to the killing of the Turkish intelligence officer, Colonel Ghazi, the former commander of the Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield operations in Syria, and the injury of a Syrian fighter named a Ayman Mahalli from the Syrian Jarabulus.

The website quoted a source close to the family of the Syrian ‘Ayman Mahalli’ that the latter was working as a translator for the Turkish intelligence officer while they were in Tripoli.

It is noteworthy that the media affiliated with Al-Wefaq rushed to report the death of 3 civilians as a result of the bombing, but the reality of the matter seems to contradict this news, the first of which was written by the prominent leader of the Al-Nawasi Brigade, Muhammad Al-Azhar Abu Daraa, known as the ‘Fund’ in his personal page on Facebook in response to statements regarding the fall of civilians as a result of the bombing.”

218TV also quoted the LNA media office on saying that a weapons cache was hit in the port area. However, ImageSat Intl. provided satellite imagery of the incident which shows smoke rising from cargo near the Turkish vessel.

UNSMIL reported “a number of casualties” sadi that the attack “could have led to a real disaster had the vessel transporting liquefied gas been hit.”

The incident occured around midday.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Video of smoke rising from the port
  • Satellite imagery of the incident
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via Libya Observer)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via Tk Yahroug Kl shy)
  • Smoke rising from Tripoli port after alleged LNA shelling on February 18th, 2020 (via 218TV)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the port of Tripoli being struck (ميناء طرابلس). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have identified the exact location of the strike at these coordinates: 32.90666, 13.186038. This location is further confirmed by satellite imagery by @ImageSatIntl.

  • Reports of the incident mention the port of Tripoli being struck (ميناء طرابلس). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have identified the exact location of the strike. This location is further confirmed by satellite imagery by @ImageSatIntl.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Evidence of the strike can be seen in a comparison of satellite imagery available. On the left an image from February 8th, 2020, and on the right an image from February 27th, 2020.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • 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 attacker
    Libyan National Army
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (27) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC331

Incident date

March 31, 2020

Location

أبو سليم, Abu Salim, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.842957, 13.171578 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians were allegedly injured by LNA shelling on Abu Salim in Tripoli.

Tk Yahroug Kl shy posted: “A shell just landed in the Al Shaabiya Abu Salim area, and a woman and a child were wounded by shrapnel from my Lord, who greeted and kept everyone safe.”

The Libya Observer said: “Haftar’s rockets fell also on Abu Salim and Mazawgha areas in Tripoli, leaving two civilians injured – one child – according to the mayor of Abu Salim.”

According to Hona Souq Al-Khmies, “a missile has landed in Al Shaabiya area in Abu Salim, injuring two women and a child.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Building damaged by shelling on Abu Salim on March 31st, 2020 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • Car damaged by shelling on Abu Salim on March 31st, 2020 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • Building damaged by shelling on Abu Salim on March 31st, 2020 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • Car damaged by shelling on Abu Salim on March 31st, 2020 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)
  • Building damaged by shelling on Abu Salim on March 31st, 2020 (via Hona Souq Al-Khmies)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Shaabiya (الشعبية) area allegedly located within the neighbourhood of Abu Salim (بوسليم). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Abu Salim are: 32.842957, 13.171578.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Abu Salim (أبو سليم).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC361

Incident date

April 21, 2020

Location

قصر بن غشير, Qasr Bin Gashir, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two men and a child were killed when artillery shells by an unknown belligerent fell near their homes in Qasr Bin Ghashir, Tripoli district, on April 21st, 2020, according to local sources.

Ramadan Al Shatwi died “after a random shell fell on his farm in Qasr Bin Gashir” on April 21st, according to Tk Yahrouq Kl shy, later adding that his son Abdo Ramadan died alongside him.

Tk Yahrouq Kl shy also reported the death of civilian Khalifa Ali Al-Khuwaildi “after a random shell landed in front of his house in Qasr Bin Gashir area.”

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

Reports of fighting the in area point at GNA or LNA as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ramadan Al Shtawi رمضان الشتوي
Adult male killed
Abdo Ramadan عبدو رمضان
Child male son of Ramadan Al Shtawi killed

The victims were named as:

Khalifa Ali Al Khuwaildi خليفة علي الخويلدي
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Ramadan Al Shtawi died alongside his son Abdo Ramadan after a shell by an unknown belligerent landed on his farm in Qaser Bin Ghashir on April 21st, 2020 (via Tk Yahrouq Kl shy).
  • Presumbably blood on the floor after shells by an unknown belligerent hit residential homes in Qaser Bin Ghashir on April 21st, 2020 (via Tarhouna 24).
  • Damaged residential house in Qaser Bin Ghashir after shelling by an unknown belligerent on April 21st, 2020 (via Tarhouna 24).
  • Damaged front porch of a residential house in Qaser Bin Ghashir after shelling by an unknown belligerent on April 21st, 2020 (via Tarhouna 24).
  • Photo taken inside a residential house in Qaser Bin Ghashir after shelling by an unknown belligerent on April 21st, 2020 (via Tarhouna 24).
  • Building in Qaser Bin Ghashir after shelling by an unknown belligerent on April 21st, 2020 (via Tarhouna 24).
  • Damaged front porch of a residential house in Qaser Bin Ghashir after shelling by an unknown belligerent on April 21st, 2020 (via Tarhouna 24).
  • Damage in Qaser Bin Ghashir after shelling by an unknown belligerent on April 21st, 2020 (via Tarhouna 24).
  • Damaged front porch of a residential house in Qaser Bin Ghashir after shelling by an unknown belligerent on April 21st, 2020 (via Tarhouna 24).

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

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
    3
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC400

Incident date

May 16, 2020

Location

ميدان الاربعة شوارع, 4 Streets Square, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.839444, 13.155556 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly injured by shelling on the Hadaba area of Tripoli.

Tk Yahrouq Kl shy wrote: “A shell landed in the 4 streets Al Haddad in the Hadaba area, and a civilian was wounded by shrapnel.”

There is currently no further information available.

Reports of fighting in the area point at GNA or LNA as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of 4 Streets Square (ميدان الاربعة شوارع), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.839444, 13.155556. 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-035

Incident date

March 17, 2011

Location

كرزاز, Kerzaz, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.300918, 15.088863 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians from the same family were reportedly killed by Gaddafi forces tank shelling in the Kerzaz neighbourhood of Misurata.

An Amnesty International investigation found: “Two other families were shot at in similar circumstances as they were fleeing Kerzaz in their vehicles on 17 March. In both cases, family members were killed and injured. Tahar Abu Shibah, a 46-year-old father of nine, and his oldest daughter Mona, aged 21, were killed when their car came under fire. One of his relatives, who was in another car, told Amnesty International:

“We left in three cars, at about 10pm, I was driving the first car, and Tahar was behind. He was driving and Mona was sitting beside him and at the back were Tahar’s wife, his son, his nephew and two other children from the family. At a certain point we saw a tank in front of us, quite close. ‘They started to shoot from the tank and I turned back and managed to get away, but Tahar and Mona were hit several times. Tahar was killed on the spot; we got Mona to hospital but she died when we got there.'”

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

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Tahar Abu Shibah
46 years old male killed
Mona
21 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • 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 neighbourhood of Kerzaz (كرزاز) in the district of Misurata (مصراتة). The generic coordinates for this neighbourhood are: 32.300918, 15.088863. 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 Kerzaz (كرزاز) in the district of Misurata (مصراتة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-198

Incident date

October 5, 2011

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.20892, 16.58866 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Sudanese family of seven was allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Sirte.

Al Jamahiriya reported: “A Sudanese family of 7 was martyred in Sirte, as a result of the bombing of their house by NATO mercenaries and its agents.”

Other sources published carbon copies of the story.

NATO did not report strikes near Sirte on that day.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.20892, 16.58866. 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
    7
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-078

Incident date

April 25, 2011

Location

الزنتان, Al Zintan, Jabal Al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

31.930396, 12.250838 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On April 25th, 2011, three people were reported killed while fleeing Zintan, due to artillery shelling from Gaddafi forces .

It was unclear how many of those harmed were civilians or rebels, from this single source claim via Al Jazeera.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 3
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Zintan (الزنتان), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.930396, 12.250838. 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
    0 – 3
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–3

Sources (1) [ collapse]