Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

Lib2011-019

Incident date

February 24, 2011

Location

ميدان الشهداء‎, Martyrs Square, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.759709, 12.732495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 24th, 2011, between seven and ten were reported killed by Gaddafi forces in Martyr’s Square in Zawiya, with between 40 and 50 injured. UN reports and various tweets corroborated the casualties, alongside the killings of four Gaddafi soldiers.

The UN report states “The remainder of Qadhafi forces were overpowered by protesters and retreated outside the city. Four Qadhafi soldiers were captured. An eyewitness told the Commission that one of the captured soldiers was beaten to death in by an angry mob, while the other was hung from the Bir al-Ghanem bridge, at a distance of about 1.5 kilometres from the Square”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Name unknown
Age unknown

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Martyrs’ Square (ميدان الشهداء‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.895, 13.181111. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    40–50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-052

Incident date

March 29, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.374457, 15.087794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 18 civilians were allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling on Misurata.

According to Al Jazeera: “In Misurata, the rebels announced that Gaddafi forces had killed more than 18 civilians on Tuesday, and that government forces were still bombing the city and clashing with the fighters.”

Deutsche Welle wrote: “The forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi’s regime advanced today, Tuesday, backed by tank shells, into Misurata (150 km east of Tripoli), some areas of which are still under the control of the rebels, a spokesman for the National Transitional Council told AFP. “Misrata is in danger. The criminal forces (Muammar Gaddafi) are advancing inside the city and the tanks are shelling indiscriminately,” said the spokesman, who asked not to be identified. The spokesman added that the pro-regime forces only control the northwestern part of the city.”

DW added that “a medical source in the city of Misurata announced that the forces loyal to the Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had killed at least 142 people and wounded more than 1,400 people during their offensive against the rebels in the city, according to the French news agency. ‘Since March 18, we have received at least 142 dead,’ said the source, who declined to be identified. ‘We are unable to count the wounded, but we have exceeded 1,400 people, more than ninety of them are in critical condition,’ he added. He indicated that a Turkish ship is expected to arrive during the day to transport about fifty wounded people.” It unclear if these were civilians or rebels.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misurata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.374457, 15.087794. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Gaddafi Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-018

Incident date

February 23, 2011

Location

ميدان الشهداء‎, Martyrs’ Square, Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.895, 13.181111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 23rd, 2011, seven civilians were killed by the 32nd Brigade in the central square of Al Zawiyah. A UN report mentioned the shooting of seven unarmed civilians.

The report states “The Commission found local authorities exercised initial restraint when engaging protesters in the central square in Al Zawiyah. The Commission determined a violent response began after the 32nd Brigade arrived on 23 February 2011 and shot at unarmed protesters, killing seven, and prompting an escalation of violence on both sides.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the central square and its general surroundings. One possible match for this square is the Martyrs’ square (ميدان الشهداء‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.895, 13.181111. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-017

Incident date

February 21, 2011

Location

قاعدة فضيل بن عمر الجويه, Benghazi, Benghazi , Libya

Geolocation

32.112582, 20.082151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 21st, 2011, nine burned bodies were found in the Fadeel ben Oumar military base, near Tripoli. The civilians had their hands tied behind their back, suspected to be due to capture by the Gaddafi forces, reported by a UN report.

The report states “on 21 February, he had been called to Fadeel ben Oumar military base, where in an underground cell, nine burned bodies were found. There was a fuel jerrycan beside the bodies. The bodies, (seemingly in civilian clothes from what remained), reportedly had their hands tied behind their back. The doctor noted they had suffered shots to the head, and he believed from the condition of the bodies that they had been burned after being killed.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • UN
    • Arabic
    • Arabic

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Fadil Ben Omar Military Base (قاعدة فضيل بن عمر الجويه ), allegedly in the vicinity of Benghazi (بنغازي‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Benghazi are: 32.112582, 20.082151.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

  • UN
    • Arabic
    • Arabic

Incident Code

Lib2011-015

Incident date

February 20, 2011

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.112582, 20.082151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 20th, 2011, between 15 and 18 people were killed by Gaddafi security forces in Benghazi. France24 and Wiki news reported the casualty counts, with Al Jazeera Youtube showing a picture of civilian bodies.

France24 reports “some of the security men detained by the protesters were apparently foreign mercenaries. The channel said earlier that security forces shot at funeral mourners, killing 15 people.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 18
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Benghazi (بنغازي‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.112582, 20.082151. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    15 – 18
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-016

Incident date

February 20–21, 2011

Location

فشلوم و تاجوراء, Fashloum and Tajoura, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.864063, 13.275073 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 20th and 21st 2011, Gaddafi forces launched artillery and airstrikes on Tripoli, injuring dozens and killing over 200, according to local claims. Agence France Presse quoted witnesses reporting massacres in the neighbourhoods of Fashalom and Tajoura. Other eyewitnesses reported helicopter bombings in the Souq al-Jumaa area.

A video showed helicopters over the skies of Tripoli, dated the 21st. Other videos showed the injured in Tripoli’s central hospital, dated the 20th. Mercenary forces were reported to be among the actors involved in these strikes in Tripoli, occupying al-Jumhuriya street in Fashalom.

A UN investigation later stated that “doctors informed the Commission that between 20-21 February 2011 over 200 bodies were brought into morgues”.

Adel Mohamad Saleh was quoted in Al-Jazeera as reporting over 250 dead, while the BBC spoke of reports of 150 fatalities in Tripoli.

A Facebook post from the group ‘If the people want their freedom’ stated: “On 21-02-2011, between nine and eleven at night, anti-aircraft shells were flying in the sky, when the Khamis Brigade was hit with anti-aircraft guns in the Fashlum area in Tripoli. These anti-aircraft machine guns had also struck at the dwellings, the doors of the dwellings, and whatever”.

One source stated that over 700 were killed overall, although this number was not reflected by any other sources.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    150 – 700
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A brief video reported to be showing a helicopter over Tripoli on Feb 20, 2011. From the 17feb2011 Youtube channel.
  • The image shows several cars and armed men standing outside a street, reported the al-Jumhuriya Street, at the intersection of the Fashlum Al-Dhahra neighborhood in Tripoli. Image from the Taha Krewi Facebook page, dated Feb 21, 2011.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Fashloum (فشلوم) and the town of Tajoura (تاجوراء) within the Tripoli (طرابلس) district. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates of a middle point between these two locations are: 32.864063, 13.275073.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Fashloum (فشلوم) and the town of Tajoura (تاجوراء) within the Tripoli (طرابلس) district.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Gaddafi Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    150 – 700
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-014

Incident date

February 19, 2011

Location

نادي الحيا, Nadi Al Hiyat Football Ground, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.373889, 15.085000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 19th, 2011, four protestors were shot by Gaddafi security forces, and between three to five other protestors were injured in Misrata. Amnesty and Wiki News confirmed the casualties.

Among the victims were Khaled Abu Shahma, a 42 year old firefighter and father of seven, Ali Hussein al-Dweik, a 43 year old journalist, and 30 year old Khaled Ibrahim al-Sriti, and 22 year old Abdel Hakim Ahmed Abou Zakiya, and an unnamed 27 year old stationary shop owner.

Amnesty quotes “100 demonstrations started on 19 February, initially in solidarity with protesters in Benghazi. After security forces used force and firearms, protesters started calling for the downfall of the al-Gaddafi regime Almost immediately, the first protester was killed. Khaled Abu Shahma, a 42-year-old firefighter and father of seven, was shot in the abdomen at about 3pm and died shortly after.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Abu Shahma
42 years old male killed
Ali Hussein al-Dweik
43 years old male killed
Khaled Ibrahim al-Sriti
30 years old male killed
Abdel Hakim Ahmed Abou Zakiya
22 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Nadi Al Hiyat football ground (نادي الحيا) in the city of Misrata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.373889, 15.085000. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-013

Incident date

February 19, 2011

Location

بنغازي‎, Benghazi, Libya

Geolocation

32.112582, 20.082151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 19th, 2011, up to 120 civilians were killed and 100 injured as a result of protests in Benghazi by Gaddafi security forces, who fired live rounds as a result of clashes. Amnesty and Wiki news confirmed the casualties, alongside two mentions in the UN commission report.

Wiki news reports “Thousands of people went out in a funeral procession and went to the Benghazi cemetery to bury the dead in the confrontations of the past two days, but security forces shot them with live bullets from their machine guns, leaving dozens dead and wounded”.

Other tweets reported the killings in specific neighborhoods.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 120
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Benghazi (بنغازي‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.112582, 20.082151. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 120
  • Civilians reported injured
    100
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]