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

8 December 2016

Incident Code

LC053

Location

Giza, Surt, Libya
الجيزة
Various local sources reported that Hanan bin Sirteya Gaddafi, a dermatologist from Sirte, was killed in an airstrike in a house in the Giza district in Sirte. Alwasat and Rihab News claimed that she and her husband, Osama Shuaib Zayani, joined ISIS once it took over Sirte and that she leaves behind two children. Zayani…

Summary

Published
8 December 2016
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Incident Date

5 December 2016

Incident Code

LC052

Location

Giza, Surt, Libya
Campaign overview: The United States began a major air campaign in support of and at the request of GNA ground forces, to oust ISIS from the city of Sirte. Complete official records of the US campaign at Sirte – which saw 497 airstrikes on the city to December 5th 2016 – can be found here.…

Summary

Published
5 December 2016
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Incident Date

2 December 2016

Incident Code

LC051

Location

Sirte, Surt, Libya
سرت‎
On December 2nd, Mohamed Lajnef posted pictures of two injured children on Facebook, saying they had been liberated from ISIS. On December 5th Libya’s Channel reported Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous rescued over a hundred children and women from ISIS, some of the children severely injured. It showed pictures of two children: one is the same depicted in…

Summary

Published
2 December 2016
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Incident Date

15 November 2016

Incident Code

LC050

Location

Ganfouda, Benghazi, Libya
بنغازي‎
Eight prisoners were reported killed following LNA airstrikes on Benghazi. The LNA self-reported airstrikes in the following locations: “A MiG-23ML and a Mig23BN reportedly targeted the vehicles and fighters of alleged terrorist groups while trying to escape from the Qawarsheh area to Qanfouda after the siege on, reportedly leading to their destruction. A MiG-21 reportedly…

Summary

Published
15 November 2016
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Incident Date

14 November 2016

Incident Code

LC049

Location

Qaradah, Wadi ash Shati, Libya
قرضة
France allegedly conducted airstrikes in Qaradah north of Sabha which killed Al Qaeda leader Abdul Muneim al-Hasnawi, also known as Abu Talha al-Libi and six other members of the organisation. The mayor of the city, Hassen Matoug, contested the events on Facebook and claimed that up to eight civilians were killed in the attack. He…

Summary

Published
14 November 2016
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Incident Date

12 November 2016

Incident Code

LC048

Location

Ganfouda, Benghazi, Libya
قنفودة
A man was killed and three of his daughters injured in an airstrike – with some reports suggested two were in fact killed. Ean Libya reported the death of a man and the wounding of two children when airstrikes hit the Ganfouda area of Benghazi. It reported that the voices of two girls could be…

Summary

Published
12 November 2016
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