All Belligerents in Libya, 2012–present

Following the NATO-backed overthrow of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya entered a prolonged period of civil conflict, leading to the fragmentation of the country’s territory between rival forces.

Airwars has documented allegations of civilian harm by a number of military actors in Libya since 2012. Our findings for the 2011 Libya conflict are here.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

512 – 747

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 542 separate alleged incidents.

78 – 94
children likely killed
38 – 41
women likely killed
876
likely injured
567
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
834 – 1,217
Locally reported civilian deaths from all military actors in Libya actions in Libya.
542 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
512 – 747
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by all military actors in Libya
331 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
112 – 158
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
122 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
210 – 310
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
85 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
2
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
4 seperate alleged incidents
543 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

7 January 2018

Incident Code

LC076

Location

South of Sirte, Surt, Libya
Two decomposed bodies were found in a vehicle, reportedly victims of an earlier airstrike. Qnat Aljamahiriya reported that two decomposed bodies were found by camel breeders. The bodies were in a four-wheel drive video, which had evidently been targeted in the “desert southwest of Sirte.” Based on the report, it appeared the men had died…

Summary

Published
7 January 2018
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Incident Date

28 December 2017

Incident Code

LQ064

Location

Sidi Kharibesh, Benghazi, Libya
بنغازي‎
Several sources reported airstrikes on Sidi Akhrebish by either LNA, Egypt or UAE. One source claims Egyptian F-16s or Rafales were involved. However, some local sources described what they said was “Indiscriminate shelling by heavy weapons on the area of Akhrebish this day by the LNA militia.” And Libya Today TV noted what it said…

Summary

Published
28 December 2017
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Incident Date

10 December 2017

Incident Code

LQ063

Location

Municipal hotel, Benghazi, Libya
بنغازي‎
Civilian infrastructure in Benghazi was targeted by LNA strikes, according to local sources Libya Today TV reported that an LNA strike in central Benghazi – in the Akhribesh area – resulted in the destruction of “infrastructure and public and private property of citizens.” Ayon Benghazi reported strikes in the vicinity of a hotel, and several other…

Summary

Published
10 December 2017
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Incident Date

3 December 2017

Incident Code

LQ062

Location

Sidi Kharibesh, Benghazi, Libya
بنغازي‎
LNA MiGs reportedly conducted heavy airstrikes in Sidi Akhribesh and the Afet neighbourhood near the hotel, which were described by one source as “the last strongholds of the terrorists.” There were no public reports of civilian harm at the time.

Summary

Published
3 December 2017
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Incident Date

22 November 2017

Incident Code

LQ061

Location

Libyan-Egyptian border, Al Butnan, Libya
الحدود الليبية المصرية
Various sources reported Egyptian airstrikes destroying 10 vehicles allegedly loaded with ammunition and weapons at the Libyan side of the border. “‘The air force has dealt a new blow to smugglers and infiltrators across the border,’ preventing them from bringing weapons and ammunition into Egypt, army spokesman Tamer al-Refai said in a statement posted on…

Summary

Published
22 November 2017
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Incident Date

30 October 2017

Incident Code

LC075

Location

Libyan-Egyptian border, Al Kufrah, Libya
الحدود الليبية المصرية
Two sources reported that the Egyptian Air Force destroyed six vehicles at the border with Egypt in the Kufra district. One of them claimed that it had loaded weapons and ammunition while another claimed it was a civilian car coming back from a fishing trip. Mansoura Today reported, for example, that “Yesterday, the air force…

Summary

Published
30 October 2017
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