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

28 September 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-185

Location

سرت, Sirte, Surt, Libya
One source shows several people who are injured due to the NATO strike inside a hospital in Sirte and the doctors trying to revive them. The video posted by Surt Son is captured "The death of dozens of civilians in Sirte a result of NATO bombing and the rebels to revive the city." NATO itself…

Summary

Published
11 September 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
NATO forces
View Incident

Incident Date

27 September 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-184

Location

سرت, Sirte, Surt, Libya
Various sources reported that a woman was killed and a child lost his eyesight due to injures by NATO attack in Sirte, in September 27th 2011. Sadikat al Qa’ed comment on Nour Al-Din Nasser Al Zanki Facebook post stated that a child with the woman suffered injures; however, it is unclear if he was the…

Summary

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

Incident Date

26 September 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-183

Location

الحي رقم 2 في مدينة سرت, neighborhood number 2, Surt, Libya
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.

Summary

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

Incident Date

25 September 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-182

Location

برج الساعة المجاور للحي رقم 3, Clock tower adjacent Neighbourhood No. 3, Surt, Libya
According to various sources mostly affiliated with the Gaddafi regime, family members residing in neighbourhood number 3 in front of Al Sa'a (clock) tower, Sirte, were injured and some killed due to an attack launched by NATO in September 25th 2011. It is unclear due to contradicting sources, whether Sarah Ahmed Abd al-Mawli Yunus and Muhammad…

Summary

Published
25 September 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–5
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
NATO forces
View Incident

Incident Date

25 September 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-181

Location

الحي رقم 3, Neighbourhood No. 3, Surt, Libya
On 25 September 2011 at about 4 am, NATO struck a residential building in Sirte that ended up in killing a family that consists of four children and three women. Amnesty International said: "It is not clear whether another relative, Mosbah Ahmed Diyab, a Brigadier-General in al-Gaddafi’s forces who lived in another area of the…

Summary

Published
25 September 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
NATO forces
View Incident

Incident Date

25–30 September, 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-189

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Surt, Libya
One child was killed by Rebel forces artillery shelling and its mother injured in Sirte, according to the UN. The report said: "Family members interviewed by the Commission stated that a female relative was injured by shrapnel, and her infant daughter was killed, when her home in Hay al-Dollar was hit by Grad rockets in…

Summary

Published
30 September 2011
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Libyan rebel forces
View Incident