All Belligerents in Libya, 2011

Following the start of the Arab Spring in 2011, Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s regime was toppled in a NATO-backed uprising, leading to significant upheaval and fighting between pro-Gaddaffi forces and rebel groups.

Airwars documented hundreds of allegations of civilian harm by all military actors in Libya in the 2011 war, and has conducted a number of major investigations into the subject.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

1,166 – 2,519

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely all military actors in Libya actions in Libya for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the all military actors in Libya. These originate from 213 separate alleged incidents.

95 – 128
children likely killed
51 – 79
women likely killed
1,050
likely injured
442
named victims

all military actors in Libya estimate of civilian deaths

0

Confirmed civilian deaths, from all military actors in Libya actions in Libya, originating from separate incidents of civilian harm.

0
civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
1,826 – 3,332
Locally reported civilian deaths from all military actors in Libya actions in Libya.
213 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
1,166 – 2,519
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by all military actors in Libya
117 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
594 – 699
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
86 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
66 – 114
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
10 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
0 seperate alleged incidents
216 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

5 March 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-029

Location

الزاوية, Zawiya, Al Zawiyah, Libya
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…

Summary

Published
5 March 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery, Naval bombardment
Civilians reported killed
16–30
Civilians reported injured
30
Military actors reported killed
50
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival
Military Actor
Gaddafi Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

4 March 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-028

Location

الرجمة, Al Rajma, Benghazi, Libya
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…

Summary

Published
4 March 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
19
Civilians reported injured
26
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Gaddafi Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

3 March 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-027

Location

راس لانوف, Ras Lanuf, Surt, Libya
On March the 3rd 2011, Gaddafi forces allegedly launched several airstrikes on Ras Lanuf (the oil crescent), in the vicinity of Brega that resulted, according to a single surviving source, in six civilians killed and 12 injured, who were said to be accompanying an Egyptian relief convey. Several sources referred to Gaddafi forces being behind…

Summary

Published
3 March 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
12
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Gaddafi Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

2 March 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-026

Location

البريقة, Brega, Al Wahat, Libya
Four civilians were reported killed and ten more wounded in an airstrike by the Gaddafi regime in Brega. Only one source, Naji Alive, reported civilians casualties, via Twitter: "Four killed and 10 injured in airstrikes targeting Brega city west of Benghazi." Other sources, such as NPR, only reported airstrikes by the regime: "'Huge plumes of…

Summary

Published
2 March 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Gaddafi Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

26 February 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-024

Location

بين صبراتة وسرمان, Between Sabratha and Sarman, Al Zawiyah, Libya
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…

Summary

Published
26 February 2011
Strike Type
Ground operation
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Gaddafi Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

26 February 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-025

Location

ميدان الشهداء, Martyrs' Square, Al Zawiyah, Libya
On February 26th, 2011, 50 civilians were reported killed and another 50 wounded as a result of heavy artillery shelling on the city of al-Zawiya by Gaddafi forces. Thirty of the wounded were taken to another location, though no other information was provided about casualties. Al-Jazeera was the only source to report on the strike,…

Summary

Published
26 February 2011
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
50
Civilians reported injured
50
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Gaddafi Forces
View Incident