Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
Libya
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Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
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Incident Code

Lib2011-183

Incident date

September 26, 2011

Location

الحي رقم 2 في مدينة سرت, neighborhood number 2, Sirte, Libya

Airwars assessment

One source reported that two children were killed by a NATO strike in neighbourhood two in Sirte, in September 26th 2011.

NATO on that day reported hitting “1 ammunition/vehicle storage facility” in the vicinity of Sirte.

There is currently no further information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mustafa Muhammad Al-Mahdi Al-Mansouri مصطفى محمد المهدي المنصوري
10 years old male killed
Hana Mohammed Al Mahdi Al Mansouri هناء محمد المهدي المنصوري
6 years old female hit by shrapnel in her leg killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

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 ammunition /vehicle storage facility.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-108

Incident date

June 12, 2011

Location

الزنتان, Al Zintan, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

31.996513, 12.003225 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Nine civilians were allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling of Zintan.

Al Jazeera noted at the time: “On his part, a spokesman for the rebels said on Monday that nine people were killed and more than forty others were wounded on Sunday when forces loyal to Gaddafi bombed the town of Zintan, held by the rebels, in the west of the country.”

17 Feb Revolution wrote: “Libyan opposition spokesman said on Monday that nine people were killed on Sunday when forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi bombed the opposition-held Zintan town with artillery and missiles.

‘Nine were killed because of the bombing… yesterday, and more than 40 others were wounded, the spokesman, Abdul Rahman, told Reuters by phone from Zintan. ‘It was the heaviest bombardment in several weeks.'”

Other sources reported the same death toll.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other, Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Funeral of victims allegedly killed in the incident

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Zintan (الزنتان) being struck, for which the generic coordinates are: 31.996513, 12.003225. Due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Civilians reported injured
    40
  • 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 targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other, Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-001

Incident date

February 15, 2011

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

In one of the first mass casualty events of the 2011 Libya uprising,  Amnesty International reported 59 civilians injured on February 15th as a result of demonstrations in Benghazi against Gaddafi forces. The demonstrations lasted until the end of February 16th.

Amnesty International stated that “protesters [were] reportedly assaulted by members of the police, riot police (Central Security), the People’s Leadership and Revolutionary Committees. According to al-Jala’a Hospital records and testimonies of victims and witnesses, in the two days 59 protesters were treated for injuries not caused by firearms.”

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    59
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Benghazi (بنغازي‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.112582, 20.082151. 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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    59
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-143

Incident date

August 21, 2011

Location

كوبرى الهضبة الشرقية , Eastern Hill Bridge, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.857472, 13.209339 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 60 and 72 people were killed near the Eastern Hill Bridge on a highway in Tripoli by Gaddafi forces on August 21, 2011 according to multiple posts and videos, including Gharyan Radio and Libyan People Youtube.

A video posted by Wasat Al Bilad shows multiple men with guns blocking a road and interacting with cars as they drive by. Gharyan Radio posted images of the suspected killers and describes them as making a fake gate in the road and stopping everyone and killing some. A video posted by Libyan People shows two men beating two other men in the street and you can hear men screaming, as well as gunshots.

Names of those killed:

Muhammad Yunus al-Muhajir

Issam Muhammad al-Taher

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Yunus al-Muhajir
Age unknown male killed
Issam Muhammad al-Taher,
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    60 – 72
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    August 22, 2011

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Eastern Hill Bridge (  كوبرى الهضبة الشرقية ) in the city of Tripoli, for which the generic coordinates are: 32.857472, 13.209339. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    60 – 72
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC427

Incident date

July 18, 2021

Location

مصرف الوحدة في منطقة الليثي, Vicinity of Al Wahda Bank, Al Laithi neighbourhood, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.088701, 20.134394 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The actor Haythem al-Debrash was killed in Benghazi and his brother Muftah was among five other civilians injured by an RPG round, fired by a militiaman said to have been celebrating the wedding nearby of a comrade.

Footage published by local media and dated July 18th showed a militiaman firing an RPG into the air alongside celebratory small arms fire. According to multiple reports, the RPG round then landed outside the al Wahda Bank on al Nahr Road, in al Laithi neighbourhood, killing Mr Debrash.

Benghazi 24 named a second casualty as Muftah al-Darbash, brother of the deceased, who it said had a limb amputated following the event. The Libya Observer reported five people injured in the event.

Libya Witness later reported that two unidentified men were arrested in connection with the incident, while 218 TV News said the public prosecutor’s office had opened a case, noting: “The perpetrator of the crime was arrested, and the Public Prosecution Office began interrogating him and eventually up accusing him of murder. It ordered his pretrial detention pending the case, while investigations into the incident are still ongoing in other aspects, which are being followed up by the Office of the Public Prosecutor.”

The incident occured during the day.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Haythem al-Debrash
Adult male killed
Muftah al-Debrash
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • 'The death of the actor Haitham Al-Darbash after a shell fell on Al-Wahda Bank in Benghazi.'
  • The actor Haitham Al-Darbash, killed on July 18th in a random militia act (via Benghazi 24)
  • 'A continuation of the chaos and the rule of the militias... dead and wounded as a result of the fall of an RPG shell on a bank queue in the city of #Benghazi.'
  • Haythem Debrash, killed by an RPG round in Benghazi on July 18th 2021 (via Libya Observer)
  • Haitham al-Derbash (via Downtown Benghazi)
  • Images from the scene of a random RPG strike in Benghazi which killed one civilian and injured five (via Only Bengazi)
  • Images from the scene of a random RPG strike in Benghazi which killed one civilian and injured five (via Only Bengazi)
  • Images from the scene of a random RPG strike in Benghazi which killed one civilian and injured five (via Only Bengazi)
  • Images from the scene of a random RPG strike in Benghazi which killed one civilian and injured five (via Only Bengazi)
  • 'Today, Sunday, July 18, we monitored the killing of the artist Haitham Derbash and the injury of five others as a result of a shell falling in the Al-Laithi neighborhood of Benghazi. We call on the authorities to open an investigation into the incident and to hold the perpetrators accountable. We also call on the Ministry of the Interior to work to limit the phenomenon of the proliferation of weapons and prevent their use within cities.'
  • 'The artist, Haitham Darbash, died as a result of injuries he sustained as a result of a bombardment near Al Wahda Bank in the Laithi area, in the city of #Benghazi, while a local source told "Bawabat Al-Wasat" on Sunday that "the artist Haitham Derbash transferred his body to the hospital," noting that the artist's brother was wounded and taken to 1200 Hospital in Benghazi.'
  • Haitham al Derbash (via @alwasatnewsly)
  • Haitham Derbash (via 218 TV News)
  • Civilian Muftah Derbash, injured in a random RPG event in Benghazi on July 18th 2021 (via Bengazi 24)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Al Wahda bank (مصرف الوحدة) in the Al Laithi neighbourhood (منطقة الليثي) of Benghazi (بنغازي). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 32.088701, 20.134394.

  • Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Al Wahda bank (مصرف الوحدة) in the Al Laithi neighbourhood (منطقة الليثي) of Benghazi (بنغازي). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed down the location to exact coordinates.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    February Channel

  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    Al Tanasuh Channel

Unknown Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ062

Incident date

December 3, 2017

Location

بنغازي‎, Sidi Kharibesh, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.125, 20.063889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

LNA MiGs reportedly conducted heavy airstrikes in Sidi Akhribesh and the Afet neighbourhood near the hotel, which were described by one source as “the last strongholds of the terrorists.”

There were no public reports of civilian harm at the time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    Unknown
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ007

Incident date

April 1, 2015

Location

الزنتان, Zintan, Airport, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

31.771818, 12.248748 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to several local sources, GNC/Libya Dawn planes bombed Zintan airport as well as the nearby village of Rujban. Most sources reported material damage, though there was no mention of civilian harm.

Zintan Airport spokesperson Omar Maatouk, speaking to Libya Herald, said that the front of the airport building was damaged by the seven shells fired. He also said that there had been no civilian casualties.

The report said: “There were no casualties at Zintan, Matoq said, adding that a number of nearby houses had been hit by shrapnel. He later said that the aircraft used was an Aero L-39 jet trainer and named the pilots as from Ghariyan and the Tripoli suburb of Fashloum.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Militias Dawn of Libya bombard residential areas in Rajaban, forcing the village to suspend the study. Libya (via Libyan™)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Libyan™)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Libyan™)
  • Another image of the aftermath (via Libyan™)
  • Another picture of the aftermath (via 988nabed)
  • Another picture of the aftermath (via 988nabed)

General National Congress (GNC) Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    General National Congress (GNC)
  • General National Congress (GNC) position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    General National Congress (GNC)

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC153

Incident date

June 18, 2019

Location

تاجوراء‎, Tajoura, Tripoli , Libya

Geolocation

32.827820, 13.389361 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source reported that three civilians had been injured in an attack on Mellitah Oil and Gas Company, Tajoura, Tripoli, on June 18th.

While two other sources reported the incident, no civilian harm was claimed in these sources.

Libya Alahrar News alleged that “the National Oil Corporation confirmed the injury of three workers in the company Mellitah oil and gas, as a result of air bombardment on Tuesday in Tajoura. “The bombing is a tragic loss,” said Mustafa Sannalla, chairman of the foundation, adding that the ongoing threats have been affecting the lives of workers in the sector, and undermining efforts to ensure the continuation of production.”

Meanwhile, 218 TV reported that “the tank of Mellitah oil and gas company in Tajoura is bombed, causing it to burn”.

The attack has been attributed to the LNA.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Image caption translation: "Warlord Haftar’s warplane bombs oil facility and tannery in Tajoura, east Tripoli" (via Libya Observer)
  • Image caption translation: "The National Oil Corporation confirmed the injury of three workers in the company Mellitah oil and gas as a result of air bombardment Tuesday on National Oil Corporation in Tajoura." (via Libya Alahrar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Mellitah Oil and Gas Company, allegedly located within the town of Tajoura (تاجوراء‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Tajoura are: 32.82782, 13.389361.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]