Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM067

Incident date

December 5–6, 2016

Location

Omar Beere/Ibrahim Ali Berre camp near Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

2.25045, 44.69117 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two media organisations reported a possible US air operation targeting an al Shabaab base in the Lower Shabelle region.

Dalsan Radio reported that Somali commandos backed by US Special Forces had attacked al Shabaab bases in Omar Berre in Lower Shabelle overnight using helicopters. It also quoted what it said was an eyewitness: “‘We heard several blasts on the outskirts of Omar beere location near Tooratoorow overnight. We can’t confirm how many people died in the attacks,’ said local resident Hussein Mohamed.”

Shabelle Media Network said that fighter jets believed to be US military conducted an air strike targeting a base. Sources told the network that helicopters were also used to target al Shabaab’s Ibrahim Ali Berre camp. it added that “Reliable sources tell Radio Shabelle that several Al shabaab foreign commanders were nabbed in a ground military operation at Ibrahim Ali Berre near Tararow district after the airstrike.”

The US said at the time that they had not conducted an operation in the area. A spokesperson from AFRICOM told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism however that over the night/morning of December 5th-6th, the Somali National Army had conducted a mission to disrupt al Shabaab, killing one alleged fighter. US forces were working with the Somali army as advisors, the spokesperson added.

The incident occured during the night.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Omar Beere or Ibrahim Ali Berre camp, near the village of Tortoroow/Torato. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location of the camp. However, the generic coordinates for the village of Tortoroow/Torato are: 2.25045, 44.69117.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerents
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (3) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

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

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerents
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (3) [ collapse]