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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

5 October 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-200

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Surt, Libya
On October 5th, 2011, four children were injured in Sirte due to shrapnel from Grad rockets, suspected to have been fired by Libyan rebel forces. No additional information on the children were provided. An al-Jamahiriya posted stated that "4 children were injured by shrapnel at the Sirte Gulf conference as a result of the Grad…

Summary

Published
5 October 2011
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Libyan rebel forces
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Incident Date

4 October 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-197

Location

مدينة زوارة, Zuwara City, Libya
On October 4th, 2011, shelling on Zuwara City killed ten civilians. It was unclear who fired the shelling, as well as what the combatant status of the casualties were. No injury counts were confirmed as well. On Facebook, the saadalibya page stated "Ten civilians were killed in Zuwara after two mortar shells landed". A tweet…

Summary

Published
4 October 2011
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
10
Military actors reported killed
0–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Unknown
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Incident Date

3 October 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-196

Location

قصر أبو هادي, Qasr Abu Hadi, Surt, Libya
One child was allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Qasr Abu Hadi. Three different pages listing victim of the NATO intervention named Muhammad Khaled Al-Sayyid Al-Qahsi Al-Gaddafi as killed on October 3rd. A comment on the Al Gaddadifa page said he was "killed in front of his family’s eyes on 3/10/2011 at 3 o'clock…

Summary

Published
3 October 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
NATO forces
View Incident

Incident Date

3 October 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-195

Location

قصر أبو هادي, Qasr Abu Hadi, Surt, Libya
One child was allegedly killed by a NATO airstrike on Qasr Abu Hadi. Al Gaddadifa martyrs said: "Child martyr Muammar Khalaf Allah Misbah Al-Amouri Gaddafi killed as a result of indiscriminate shelling of NATO gangs." Other sources also reported his death. NATO did not declare any strikes in the area on that day.

Summary

Published
3 October 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
NATO forces
View Incident

Incident Date

2 October 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-193

Location

مسجد الفرقان, Al Furqan mosque, Surt, Libya
During Isha prayers in the evening prayers, an indiscriminate attack was launched on Al Furqan Mosque by NATO, resulted in several injures to worshipers who later were moved to Ibn Sina Hospital in Sirte, in the second of October 2011. A source affiliated with Gaddafi, against the day 17 in Libya, claims that due to…

Summary

Published
2 October 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
NATO forces
View Incident

Incident Date

2 October 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-194

Location

سرت, Sirte, Surt, Libya
A single source reported that one child was critically injured by an attack by NATO and was being treated at a hospital in Sirte in October 2nd, 2011. NATO on that day reported hitting "1 multiple rocket launcher, 1 armed vehicle" in the vicinity of Sirte. There is no further information currently available.

Summary

Published
2 October 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
NATO forces
View Incident