Geolocation
Airwars assessment
A total of 11 al Shabaab militants were killed as US forces conducted two airstrikes in the vicinity of Beled Amin South on December 19th, a US Africa Command press release claimed. According to AFRICOM, no civilians were harmed.
The first strike referenced here killed eight militants and the second strike killed three militants, the US assessed.
It said the actions were carried out in self defence, after AMISOM troops being advised by US personnel were attacked.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the vicinity of Beled Amin South, for which the coordinates are: 1.8464383, 44.9888523. 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
"To support the Federal Government of Somalia's continued efforts to degrade al-Shabaab, U.S. forces conducted two (2) airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Beled Amin South, Somalia, on December 19, 2018.
Somali and African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) forces were conducting an operation in the region to clear known al-Shabaab facilities. U.S. personnel were present during the mission in an advisory capacity. The airstrikes were conducted in self-defense after al-Shabaab militants maneuvered on and engaged the combined force.
We currently assess the first strike killed eight (8) militants and we currently assess the second strike killed three (3) militants.
At this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in the airstrikes.
No partner or U.S. service members were harmed during the operation."