Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

Lib2011-029

Incident date

March 5, 2011

Location

الزاوية, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.759709, 12.732495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On March the 5th 2011, Gaddafi forces launched an air and naval bombardment on the city of Zawiya, resulting in the death and the injury of civilians. The rebels fought back and killed some Gaddafi soldiers and also African mercenaries.

According to Sayed Tawfik, Facebook post, said that “there was an air and sea bombardment in Libya on civilian targets in the city of Zawia and eyewitnesses from the field confirmed the destruction of tanks and that mercenaries soldiers were killed on this incident.”

@alalikhalid reported that “thirty people were killed, most of them civilians, in the fight in the Libyan city of Zawiya.”

According to Aljazeera, “a spokesman for the rebels in the city of Zawiya said that the Gaddafi Brigades launched a new attack and cordoned off the city from all sides, cut off phone calls, and violently bombed it from land and air for the second day in a row.

Journalist Ali Al-Mazdawi told Al-Jazeera that the outcome of the battles in Al-Zawiyah was 16 martyrs and 30 wounded.

CMS Aawsat reported that in the city of Zawya, “witnesses said the sound of artillery shelling and military helicopters shook the city, in an attempt by the forces of Gaddafi led by his son Khamis to control the city. The sources said all services were cut off from the city, the most important of which are medical services, water, electricity and telephones. The indiscriminate bombing left dozens of dead and wounded, causing unprecedented damage to the city’s history. The sources said leaders of the rebels «February 17» that there are bodies in the streets can not be reached, and that there are dozens of wounded who are killed by the forces of Gaddafi.”

Many buildings were set on fire in several buildings, including government buildings and a mosque. According to an eyewitness as a doctor at the medical centre “The Qaddafi forces attacked the medical centre, seized ambulances and killed three wounded people in the operating room.”

It was also added in CMS Aawsat that “the rebels killed about 37 Gaddafi soldiers, 13 African mercenaries.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Causes of injury / death
    Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival, 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
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    50

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Zawiya (الزاوية‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.759709, 12.732495. 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, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    16 – 30
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Causes of injury / death
    Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival, 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
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    50

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-028

Incident date

March 4, 2011

Location

الرجمة, Al Rajma, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.071284, 20.342587 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Daily Telegraph, 19 civilians were killed after explosions in a munitions depot in Ar Rajma near Benghazi. It is unclear whether the incident was caused by an airstrike by the Gaddafi regime.

The Telegraph wrote at the time: “The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear, although most local residents ruled out an air strike by forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Gaddafi in an intensifying battle with eastern rebels fighting for his ouster.”

It added the following on the number of victims: “Doctor Mustafa Saleh al-Orfali said 17 people had been killed and another hospital official registered 26 wounded. Doctor Idriss Ghazali said two dead had been brought to the Houari hospital and 14 others had been wounded after witnesses reported the explosions at the Al-Rajma military base, southeast of Benghazi.”

In addition, the newspaper noted that “Walid Werfelly, 32, whose family lives in the Al-Rajma area said he saw two women dead at another hospital, after their poorly built homes collapsed from the force of the blast.”

Iyad el-Baghdadi said on Twitter: “Aljazeera now airing first footage from site of explosion. They say it was an air strike.”

The incident occured at 18:30:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19
  • (2 women)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the a base in the village of Al Rajma (الجغبوب), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.071284, 20.342587. 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
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    19
  • (2 women)
  • 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, Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-024

Incident date

February 26, 2011

Location

بين صبراتة وسرمان, Between Sabratha and Sarman, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.762800, 12.503712 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 21st, 2011, between 12 and 24 civilians were reported injured by Gaddafi forces between Sarman and Sibrata. Al Jazeera reported Reuters quoting the Libyan newspaper Quirna.

Al Jazeera reports “Reuters quoted a correspondent for the Libyan newspaper Qurina as saying that Gaddafi’s al-Khuwailidi al-Hamidi Brigade fired randomly in the area without specifying the circumstances of the shooting or the identity of the victims.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 area in between the cities of Sabratha (صبراتة) and Sarman (سرمان). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for a middle point between these two cities are: 32.762800, 12.503712.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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

Lib2011-023

Incident date

February 25, 2011

Location

الزاوية, Al Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.759709, 12.732495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 25th, 2011, Gaddafi forces bombed a mosque in Al Zawiya, killing ten using artillery and aircraft. No additional information on the victims was reported, although the deaths were reported by multiple sources on Twitter.

@alahlawy29 tweeted “an eyewitness from Al-Zawiya to Al-Jazeera: Anti-tanks and aircraft are used against demonstrators in Libya.”

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
    10
  • 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
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a mosque being struck in the city of Zawiya (الزاوية‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Zawiya are: 32.759709, 12.732495.

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
    10
  • 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
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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.

  • 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

Lib2011-020

Incident date

February 24, 2011

Location

القريات, Qaryat, Jabal al Gharbi, Libya

Geolocation

30.385255, 13.585348 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 24th, 2011, four civilians were reported killed and one injured in the Jabal al Gharbi district of Al Qaryat, after being shot by Gaddafi forces. Multiple tweets reported the casualties.

@tousniahorra states “Four people were killed in Qurayyat, which lies about 400 km south of the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Shot by the security Batillion”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 village of Qayrat (قرية), for which the generic coordinates are: 30.385255, 13.585348. 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
    4
  • Civilians reported injured
    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

Lib2011-019

Incident date

February 24, 2011

Location

ميدان الشهداء‎, Martyrs Square, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.759709, 12.732495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 24th, 2011, between seven and ten were reported killed by Gaddafi forces in Martyr’s Square in Zawiya, with between 40 and 50 injured. UN reports and various tweets corroborated the casualties, alongside the killings of four Gaddafi soldiers.

The UN report states “The remainder of Qadhafi forces were overpowered by protesters and retreated outside the city. Four Qadhafi soldiers were captured. An eyewitness told the Commission that one of the captured soldiers was beaten to death in by an angry mob, while the other was hung from the Bir al-Ghanem bridge, at a distance of about 1.5 kilometres from the Square”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

  • Name unknown Age unknown

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Martyrs’ Square (ميدان الشهداء‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.895, 13.181111. 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
    7 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-052

Incident date

March 29, 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

At least 18 civilians were allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling on Misurata.

According to Al Jazeera: “In Misurata, the rebels announced that Gaddafi forces had killed more than 18 civilians on Tuesday, and that government forces were still bombing the city and clashing with the fighters.”

Deutsche Welle wrote: “The forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi’s regime advanced today, Tuesday, backed by tank shells, into Misurata (150 km east of Tripoli), some areas of which are still under the control of the rebels, a spokesman for the National Transitional Council told AFP. “Misrata is in danger. The criminal forces (Muammar Gaddafi) are advancing inside the city and the tanks are shelling indiscriminately,” said the spokesman, who asked not to be identified. The spokesman added that the pro-regime forces only control the northwestern part of the city.”

DW added that “a medical source in the city of Misurata announced that the forces loyal to the Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had killed at least 142 people and wounded more than 1,400 people during their offensive against the rebels in the city, according to the French news agency. ‘Since March 18, we have received at least 142 dead,’ said the source, who declined to be identified. ‘We are unable to count the wounded, but we have exceeded 1,400 people, more than ninety of them are in critical condition,’ he added. He indicated that a Turkish ship is expected to arrive during the day to transport about fifty wounded people.” It unclear if these were civilians or rebels.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • 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

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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • 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

Sources (2) [ collapse]