Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

LC182

Incident date

August 15, 2019

Location

مطار معيتيقة, Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.895041, 13.2785 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly killed in an LNA artillery strike on Mitiga Airport in Tripoli.

Akhbar Libya wrote that “one person is reported to have been killed by shells at Mitiga airport.”

Libya Alahrar TV reported: “Security source to Al Ahrar: one person killed and another injured by the targeting of Mitiga International Airport with Grad rockets.”

The Libya Observer said: “Khalifa Haftar’s militia groups shell Mitiga Airport with Grad rockets killing one worker and wounding two others.”

Tk yahrouq kl shy wrote that Ahmed Al Ferjani was killed and three more injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Al Ferjani
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Photos of the aftermath
  • Another picture of the aftermath
  • More pictures of the aftermath
  • Picture of the victim

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Mitiga International Airport (مطار معيتيقة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.895041, 13.2785. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC180

Incident date

August 11, 2019

Location

سوق الجمعة , Souq Al Jumaa, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.881854, 13.256303 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three people were reportedly injured by LNA artillery shelling on the Souq Al Jumaa neighbourhood of Tripoli.

Libya Alahrar TV wrote: “3 civilians were injured due to shells falling on a residential neighbourhood in Souq Al Jumaa area in Tripoli”

February TV also said three civilians were injured and blamed the LNA for the shelling.

The GNA also accused the LNA and said they were breaking the Eid al-Adha truce agreed between the two parties during the festivities.

The Libya Observer later tweeted that four civilians were injured on August 11th by a Grad rocket that hit a residential building in Souq Al Jumaa.

Amnesty International later published a detailed investigation: “At about 9am on 11 August 2019 an artillery shell struck a house in the Souq al-Joumaa neighbourhood of Tripoli, west of Mitiga airport, injuring three civilians: Mahmoud Bashir Abu Obeid, the owner of the house, his 12-year-old nephew Rawad, and his elderly neighbour Mahfoudh Ben Ali. The shell struck a part of the house which was being used to slaughter sheep at a particularly busy time, on Eid al-Kabir (Feast of Sacrifice), the main religious holiday in the Muslim calendar, which is celebrated by slaughtering a sheep. A witness told Amnesty International:

‘There were several people around, it was busy. The shell which landed here was one of several which landed in the area. Some hit the airport. The airport is being shelled all the time, so one doesn’t really pay so much attention any more. But then suddenly, one of the shell struck right here in the middle of the people. It makes one realise how dangerous this is.’

Fragments recovered at the scene by Amnesty International investigators confirm that the weapon was an OF-412 100m artillery projectile.”

The incident occured at approximately 9:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Mahmoud Bashir Abu Obeid
Adult male injured
Rawad
12 years old male injured

The victims were named as:

Mahfoudh Ben Ali
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Souq Al Jumaa (سوق الجمعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.881854, 13.256303. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Souq Al Jumaa (سوق الجمعة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC178a

Incident date

August 8, 2019

Location

بندلوة, مرزق, Bendalwah, Murzuq, Murzuq, Libya

Geolocation

25.919023, 13.923895 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were allegedly killed and four children injured by a mortar shell in Murzuq.

OCHA reported: “On 8 August, a mortar landed on a house hosting IDPs in the Bendalwah neighborhood resulting in injuries among four children between 2 and 7 years-old and the death of two siblings.”

Other sources picked up on the report and quoted OCHA on the incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Bendalwah (بندلوة), allegedly within Murzuq (مرزق) town. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Murzuq are: 25.919023, 13.923895.

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS3990

Incident date

August 2, 2019

Location

كفرزيتا, Kafar Zeita, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the area of Kafar Zeita, Hama governorate, on August 2nd, 2019, according to local sources.

@IdlibPlus tweeted that “a civilian was injured as a result of the targeting of regime forces by the city of Kfar Zeita in the northern suburbs of Hama.”

@baladinetwork tweeted: “The regime forces bombarded the city of Kafar Zeita and the village of Latamina in the Hama countryside.”

@MahmodHamway reported “artillery shelling from the Russian camp in the town of Maaradis on the agricultural lands located between the cities of Al Latamina and Kafar Zeita in the northern Hama countryside.”

According to @NeSyria, “Russian militias targeted with heavy artillery the cities of Kafar Zeita and Al Latamina and the villages of Al Arbaeen and Al Zakat in the northern Hama countryside.” In another tweet, @NeSyria reported the use of Grad missiles.

@ZaitunAgency wrote that “a civilian was wounded by missile strikes from Assad’s forces stationed in the village of Sheikh Hadid on the city of Kafar Zeita in the northern Hama countryside.”

According to @MasarPressNet, a civilian was wounded in a missile strike by alleged regime forces.

Step News Agency stated that “the cities and towns of the northern and western Hama villages have been hit by rocket and artillery fire from the camps of the regime forces and Russian camps in the region, less than 24 hours after the Syrian regime declared a conditional ceasefire in the region […] Our correspondent pointed out that the shelling of the northern villages of Hama resulted in the injury of a civilian, while the rural areas are almost completely devoid of civilians who have been displaced to safer and more peaceful areas.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Syrian Regime, Russian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC176

Incident date

August 1, 2019

Location

لمدرسة المهدي بن بركة, Al Mahdi Bin Barka School, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.887193, 13.191295 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Various sources reported indiscriminate shelling on the Al Hadaba Al Badri neighbourhood of Tripoli damaging several houses. One source reported injured civilians.

February TV said: “Operation Volcano of Anger: 3 citizens were injured in the Hadra al-Badri area after a shell hit the Haftar militia on their house.”

Other sources only reported damage to residential buildings but no civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Picture of a house hit by a shell
  • Video of the aftermath
  • Picture of the aftermath
  • A house allegedly hit by a shell

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the vicinity of Al Mahdi Bin Barka School (لمدرسة المهدي بن بركة),  for which the generic coordinates are: 32.887193, 13.191295. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC174a

Incident date

July 29, 2019

Location

طرابلس‎: مدرسة ابي الاشهر, Tajoura: Abu Al Ashur School, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.888512, 13.313069 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly injured by indiscrimante artillery shelling on Tajoura.

An Amnesty International field investigation said: “A 22-year-old man, Abdelrahman Adel Abi al-Ashhar, was injured when a rocket struck a school located near the eastern perimeters of Mitiga airport, on the evening of 29 July 2019. He told Amnesty International:

“I was standing in front of the supermarket opposite the school, it was about 8pm. A rocket hit the school and I was hit by shrapnel all over my back and legs. We heard two other rockets striking nearby just before the one which hit the school and injured me”.

Fragments recovered at the scene by Amnesty International investigators confirm that the weapon was a 122mm 9M22U “Grad” rocket.”

Other sources said the school was damaged without civilian harm.

Local reports of fighting between GNA and LNA point at one of them as the culprit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdelrahman Adel Abi al-Ashhar
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Pictures of the damage to the school
  • Another picture of the damage caused at the school (via Al Wasat)
  • Another picture of the damage caused at the school (via Al Wasat)
  • Another picture of the damage caused at the school (via Al Wasat)
  • Another picture of the damage caused at the school (via Al Wasat)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Abu Al Ashur School (مدرسة ابي الاشهر), for which the exact coordinates are: 32.888512, 13.313069.

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC174

Incident date

July 29–30, 2019

Location

سوق الجمعة , Souq Al Jumaa, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.881854, 13.256303 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed in an LNA artillery strike on the Souq Al Jumaa neighbourhood of Tripoli.

Libya Alahrar TV reported: “One person was killed by a Grad rocket attack on a residential neighborhood in the Souq Al Jumaa area in Tripoli.”

An Amnesty International investigation later found: “Anwar Mabrouk Mlitan, a 50-year-old carpenter father of six, was killed on the evening of 29 July 2019, when an artillery shell struck outside his home in the Souq a-Joumaa neighbourhood outside Mitiga. His brother told Amnesty International:

‘We were together with some neighbours and had gone to see what happened nearby where we heard shelling. Then we came home and I went into my house and Anwar before going into his house went to check on a neighbour, an elderly Syrian man who has lived here for many years. Anwar used to look after him because he was old and sick. It was then that the shell struck and killed Anwar. Six or seven shells struck around here, a few minutes apart. The one which killed Anwar was the last one.’

Fragments analysed by Amnesty International investigators confirm that the ordnance used in the attack was an OF-412 100mm projectile, almost certainly fired from a BS-3 artillery piece with a 20-kilometre range.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Anwar Mabrouk Mlitan
50 years old male Carpenter killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Souq Al Jumaa (سوق الجمعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.881854, 13.256303. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Souq Al Jumaa (سوق الجمعة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
    Libyan National Army

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC173

Incident date

July 27, 2019

Location

الهضبة البدري, Al Hadaba Al Badri, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.836207, 13.213150 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and three civilians were reported killed resulting from indiscriminate artillery shelling on the Al Hadba Al Badri neighbourhood of Tripoli.

The Libya Observer reported: “The National Safety Authority says two people died as a result of a shell falling on their home in Al Hadaba Al Badri area south of Tripoli.”

Libya Al Alahrar TV wrote: “The National Safety Authority in Tripoli confirmed the death of two people because a shell landed on a house in Al Hadaba Al-Badri area.”

Ambulance Services Libya said: “Ambulance rescue and ambulance teams are providing emergency services to the injured following the fall of shells on a residential neighborhood in Al Hadaba Al Badri area in the capital Tripoli, causing the deaths of two children and a man.”

Al Motawaset later named three victims likely from this incident.

Local reports of fighting point at shelling by either GNA or LNA.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Al-Haj
Age unknown male killed
Miloud Ambiya
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Picture of the aftermath

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Hadaba Al Badri (الهضبة البدري), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.836207, 13.21315. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Al Hadaba Al Badri (الهضبة البدري).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Government of National Accord Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Government of National Accord
  • Government of National Accord position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2 children1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Government of National Accord, Libyan National Army

Sources (5) [ collapse]