Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM152

Incident date

October 14, 2018

Location

Araara, Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.026888, 42.682822 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four al Shabaab fighters were killed as the US carried out a strike in Somalia in the vicinity of Araara, Lower Juba region, after partner forces came under attack from small arms fire, a US Africa Command press release stated.

The press release called it a “collective self-defense airstrike.” No US service members were apparently present on the ground during what it said was a Somali-led operation.

The strike killed four al Shabaab fighters, the press release claimed, while assessing that no civilians were harmed.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the vicinity of Araara, for which the coordinates are: 0.026888, 42.682822. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

"In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted a collective self-defense airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Araara, Somalia, on October 14, 2018.

We currently assess this airstrike killed four (4) terrorists.

We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.

The airstrike was conducted after partner forces came under small arms fire. No U.S. service members were present on the ground during this Somali-led operation."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (4) [ collapse]