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

20 September 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-170

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Surt, Libya
On September 20th, 2011, Reuters reported that a spokesman for Gaddafi stated that 151 civilians were killed due to shelling on Sirte. This number was unable to be verified. Independent investigators later found that civilian casualty number reported by the Gaddafi regime were hugely inflated of fabricated. NATO confirmed airstrikes on “1 Command and Control…

Summary

Published
20 September 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
151
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
NATO forces
View Incident

Incident Date

18 September 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-169

Location

الحي رقم 3, Neighbourhood No. 3, Surt, Libya
On September 18th, 2011, three children were reported to have died from NATO bombardment in the third residential area of Sirte. Nour al-Din Nasser al-Zanki reported the deaths of two children, while a Facebook page from a father reported the death of another child on the same day. NATO confirmed airstrikes on “1 Military Facility,…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 September 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-167

Location

الشعبية, Al Sha'biya, Surt, Libya
On September 17th, 2011, it was reported that there were four civilian casualties in a NATO airstrike in Al-Sha’biya near Sirte. An al-Gadafia Martyr's post reported four deaths on September 19th, 2011, Sirte Martyrs reported the same amount of deaths. Nour al-Din Nasser al-Zanki reported that the deaths were the result of a bombing on…

Summary

Published
17 September 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
NATO forces
View Incident

Incident Date

17 September 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-168

Location

القبيبة, Al Qubeiba, Surt, Libya
On September 17th, 2011, it was reported that there were two civilian casualties in a NATO airstrike near Al Qubeiba, west of Sirte. A Nour al-Din Nasser al-Zanki post reported one death and one injury, both women, from bombings. The Surt Son Youtube page reported the death of an unnamed Sudanese woman at the same…

Summary

Published
17 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

16 September 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-164

Location

عمارة التأمين, Al Tam’een buildings, Surt, Libya
On September the 16th, 2011, NATO allegedly bombed a residential building in Sirte called Al Ta'amin building which led to at least two killed and two injured. According to an Amnesty International report: "At least two residents were killed in two apartments in different parts of the building. ‘Aisha Abdul Jalil al-Mazughi, a mother of…

Summary

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

Incident Date

16 September 2011

Incident Code

Lib2011-165

Location

الحي رقم 3, Neighbourhood No. 3, Surt, Libya
A boy and his mother were killed by NATO bombing in the third residential area in Sirte in September 16th 2011. Various condolence pages reported their death without providing further details. NATO on that day reported striking "5 Command and Controle Nodes, 3 Radar Systems, 4 Armed Vehicles, 8 Air Missile Systems" near Sirte.

Summary

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