Geolocation
Airwars assessment
AFRICOM reported that two days previously it had “conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants on Feb. 19, in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia”.
It added: “We assess no civilians were killed in this strike.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the attack had killed “three (3) terrorists.”
Voice of America said that “Local residents in the region reported another airstrike that destroyed an al-Shabab training camp in the nearby town of Jilib. That airstrike, also confirmed by U.S. Africa Command, killed three militants.”
In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM confirmed it had struck on this date what it says were “al-Shabaab Fighters”, in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia.
U.S. Conducts Airstrike in Support of the Federal Government of Somalia – https://t.co/uxSsNYQTYp pic.twitter.com/tJMfBX7WZd
— U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (@USAfricaCommand) February 21, 2018
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the vicinity of Jilib, for which the coordinates are: 0.494527, 42.777868. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (4) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]
US Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
U.S. Conducts Airstrike in Support of the Federal Government of Somalia
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants on Feb. 19, in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, killing three (3) terrorists.
We assess no civilians were killed in this strike.
U.S. forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect U.S. citizens and to disable terrorist threats. This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) in combined counterterrorism operations and targeting terrorists, their training camps, and their safe havens throughout Somalia and the region.
Together with other international partners, the United States is committed to providing Somalia, AMISOM and SNSF with support in the fight against violent extremist organizations.