Airwars assessment
In conjunction with the Somali government, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted a strike against Islamic State militants on 31 May, 2024 in “a remote area in the vicinity of Dhaardaar”. AFRICOM reported that the strike had killed three IS militants, “with no civilian casualties”.
X/Twitter user @ZakeriyeAxmed reported that the strike targeted IS leader and former Al-Shabaab member, Abdulqa’dir Mumin, but that “they [US officials] aren’t certain he is dead”. This was corroborated by Garowe Online: “The United States maintains that Mumin was the target and insists he may have died, although there was no immediate confirmation”.
HSToday, referencing ABC News, reported that “a fourth U.S. official would confirm only that ‘a senior Islamic State leader was the target of the strike’, but would not reveal any names”. Deemed by some as the “worldwide leader of the terror group”, Mumin would later be reported alive, though it is unclear whether such reports are credible. Radio Dalsan wrote that “recent intelligence confirms that Mumin is alive” and that he “continues to operate from a highly secured, secret location in the Al-Miskaad mountains of the Bari region”. More recently reports from August of 2024, including from the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, state that it’s possible that Abdulqa’dir Mumin may have become the worldwide leader of ISIS but this hasn’t been substantiated.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (20) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]
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Source: Horn Observer News
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Source: Halqabsi News
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Source: @GaroweOnline
US Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike in Somalia targeting ISIS militants, May 31, 2024.
The airstrike occurred in a remote area in the vicinity of Dhaardaar, approximately 81 km southeast of Bosaso, Somalia.
An initial assessment of the strike is that three ISIS militants were killed, with no civilian casualties.
U.S. Africa Command takes great measures to prevent civilian casualties. Protecting innocent civilians remains a vital part of the command’s operations to promote a more secure and stable Africa.
ISIS has conducted numerous attacks globally, including terrorist attacks in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, all while continuing to plot against U.S. homeland and personnel and interests around the world, as well as regional partners, and others globally. U.S. Africa Command, alongside its partners, continues to take action to prevent this terrorist group from planning and conducting attacks, which disproportionately harms civilians.
Somalia remains central to the security environment in East Africa. U.S. Africa Command’s forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to degrade ISIS.
U.S. Africa Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, with partners, counters malign actors and international threats, responds to crises, and strengthens security forces in order to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability and prosperity.