All Belligerents in Libya, 2011

All Belligerents in Libya, 2011

Mourners in Majer, Libya in 2011 following a NATO airstrike which killed at least 34 civilians, according to multiple reports. Image courtesy of Sidney Kwiram/ Human Rights Watch

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Incident Code

Lib2011-021

Incident date

February 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

On February 24th, 2011, one civilian was shot in Misrata by Gaddafi forces. The civilian was a Palestinian named Hassam Hatem Abdul Rahman Abu Mustafa. Multiple sources quoted his mother, who confirmed the death of her son.

A Facebook post from Nbprs Ps states “The mother of the martyr Hassan Hatem Abdul Rahman Abu Mustafa (20 years) confirmed that her son was killed in front of the family at the entrance to the house in Misrata, after his name and nationality were known to an armed group of militias affiliated with Gaddafi and not from the army.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Hatem Abdul Rahman Abu Mustafa
20 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 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.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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

Lib2011-207

Incident date

October 17, 2011

Location

بني وليد, Bani Walid, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

31.75805, 13.983513 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A young man from Bani Walid was killed by Al-Zawiyah rebels on October 17, 2011 according to UN Report Source page 78. He was arrested by the Al-Zawiyah in front of his relatives and they were assured he would be released soon but shortly after, they heard gunshots and he was found in a hospital 50 km outside of Bani Walid where he died of his wounds, a gun shot to the abdomen, nine days later.

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)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Bani Walid (بني وليد), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.75805, 13.983513. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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

LQ046

Incident date

June 4, 2017

Location

بنغازي‎, Omar al-Mukhtar mausoleum, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.119444, 20.067778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported airstrikes in multiple areas of Benghazi – including Sabri, the fish market area at the tomb of Omar al-Mukhtar, the municipal hotel, the Republic Hospital and the Al-Nuran Hotel.

According to a report in Akhbar Alaan, the LNA announced ten strikes on militants in the city.

Other sources put the number of strikes at 15. On Facebook, Thowrat reported that the strikes were Egyptian. According to Alwasat, “The commander of the Special Forces, Lt. Col. Mari al-Houti, said on Sunday that an intensive aerial bombardment for the second day in a row targeted the sites and gatherings of ‘terrorist organizations’ in the centre of Sabri and the centre of the fish market area in the eastern city of Benghazi.”

No monitored reports mentioned civilian casualties 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 attackers
    Libyan National Army, Egyptian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Libyan National Army Assessment:

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

Egyptian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Egyptian Military
  • Egyptian Military 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 attackers
    Libyan National Army, Egyptian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC051

Incident date

December 2, 2016

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

On December 2nd, Mohamed Lajnef posted pictures of two injured children on Facebook, saying they had been liberated from ISIS.

On December 5th Libya’s Channel reported Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous rescued over a hundred children and women from ISIS, some of the children severely injured. It showed pictures of two children: one is the same depicted in Mohamed Lajnef’s images.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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, US Forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A video shows civilians that have survived followed numerous of airstrikes in Sirte (Source: Libya's Channel)

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.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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, US Forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC030

Incident date

May 19, 2016

Location

الوشكة, Al-Wushka, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.371944, 15.567778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to various local sources a GNA/Misurata Air Force airstrike hit a car while targeting ISIS forces. Two members of the al-Mazoughi family, a man and his wife, were reportedly severely injured. The incident took place near the villages Al-Washka, Al-Qadihah and Zamzam.

In addition, ten ISIS members were reported killed in the strike, including Tunisian, Sudanese, Somali and Libyan citizens.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord
  • Suspected target
    ISIS - Libya

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage shows the moment GNA airforce conducted several airstrikes targeting ISIS convoy in Sirte (Source: GNA airforce media)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al-Wushka (الوشكة). The coordinates for Al-Wushka are: 31.371944, 15.567778.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Government of National Accord
  • Suspected target
    ISIS - Libya

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ009a

Incident date

August 25, 2015

Location

درنة الفتايح, Derna: Al Fatayah, Derna, Libya

Geolocation

32.733611, 22.645278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported heavy LNA shelling on populated areas in Derna.

Mohamed Alshiki posted on Twitter: “Heavy shelling by the Libyan air force now by using warplanes and vertical combat

The shelling also included the valleys in Derna.”

Ramaa_el_gd reported, “bombing by Haftar which hit three residential neighbourhoods, led to burning farms and the some damaged houses.”

Solidarity for Human Rights posted a video of the event on Facebook saying: “Witness: The moment the air raid bombed the homes of residents of the city of Derna with an explosive barrel amid the panic of children.”

Libya in the heart reported strikes in the Al Fatayah area of the city.

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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Translation: The bombing of the Haftar airliner that targeted three residential neighbourhoods led to the burning of farms and the injury of some Derna houses and three evil axes (Source: Ramaa_el_gd)
  • A video shows the moment followed an alleged LN airstrike carried out in Derna (Source: Libya Observer)
  • Translation: The Air Force targets the locations of Daesh by air strikes in the eastern Oqaba to the coast of the city of Derna just a while ago (Source: @mohamedalzober)

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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LQ001

Incident date

October 4, 2014

Location

بنغازي‎, Bu Jazirah, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.168056, 20.131944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to multiple local sources, airstrikes from an unknown belligerent reportedly hit Benghazi University and the February 17 camp targeting Ansar al-Sharia, which were described by some sources as “terrorist sites”.

Entisar Shinib reported that some civilians houses have affected by the strike, however, no civilian harms are reported.

There were no known reports of civilian casualties.

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
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the aftermath (via Afrigate News)
  • Picture of the aftermath (via Afrigate News)
  • Picture of the aftermath (via Afrigate News)

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown 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
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ 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]