Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM019

Incident date

November 14, 2011

Location

Afgooye, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

2.14158, 45.118698 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two al Shabaab leaders were possibly killed in an alleged US or French-launched air or drone strike in Afgoye, Lower Shabelle, local and international media reported. No sources reported civilian harm.

Missiles were fired at a training camp in Afgoye, Lower Shabelle, according to al Shabaab. An initial report from the Suna Times stated: “US drone attack killed leaders Ahmed Godane and Hassan Dahir Aweys.”

However, these claims were later disputed. Michael Logan, then editor of Somalia Report, later tweeted “Looks like the deaths of al-Shabaab leaders were greatly exaggerated by the TFG, as usual.” A junior al Shabaab member allegedly told Somalia Report that the group suffered “some casualties.”

Associated Press debated who was responsible for the alleged strikes, with both French and US officials publicly suggesting the other nation may have carried out the attacks.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the town of Afgooye, for which the generic coordinates are: 2.14158, 45.118698. Strike likely occurred along the road between the two Agoi of Afgooye towns, as Laantbuur is listed where the strike hit. Geolocated to Afgooye as the closest major city. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Suspected belligerents
    US Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2–4

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Original Suna Times report via Wayback
  • Archived Somalia Report via Wayback

US Forces Assessment:

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

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Suspected belligerents
    US Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2–4

Sources (4) [ collapse]