(Previous Incident Code: SOM090)

AFRICOM publicly reported that two days earlier, it had “conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab on the morning of March 19 near Mubaarak, Somalia”.

The press release made no mention of civilian harm. However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed “two terrorists”, wounded another “three terrorists” and destroyed “one vehicle”.

Voice of America reported the following: “AFRICOM did not identify the individuals targeted in the Monday morning strike but said it was conducted in coordination with the federal government of Somalia.  It also said one vehicle was destroyed in the operation… The deputy governor of the Lower Shabelle region, Abdifatah Haji Abdulle, told VOA Somali that they are still assessing Monday’s strike in order to identify those targeted.  He told VOA Somali that the occupants were al-Shabab officials but said details will be released after assessment is completed.”

In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM  confirmed it had struck what it says were “al-Shabaab Fighters”, in the vicinity of Mubaarak, Somalia.