Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM208

Incident date

March 15–16, 2019

Location

Jilib Marka, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.79767, 44.90755 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A Mareeg Media report from March 16th 2019 asserted that US-backed Somali forces had carried out an “air and ground operation” near Marka Town in Jilib Marka, 91km southwest of Mogadishu.

Citing anonymous Somali military officials, Mareeg said that “at least” 22 “militants” were killed in the operation, including ‘senior al Shabaab commanders’ Abu Yasin Sheikh Mohamed and Abu Mohamed Hamza. Universal TV Somalia described Mohamud Abu Hamza as having recently returned from Syria, while Xamar Today said that it was Abu Yasin who had recently arrived from Syria.

It added that “Somali military [sources] says drone strike also hit group’s militants in the area, inflicting heavy casualties upon them.”

In what may be the same or a separate event, Danan News reported on March 15th: “#BREAKING: Sources confirm a US airstrike killed today a senior al-Shabab commander known as #Ibrahim_Garwayne in #Lower_Shabelle region at #Leego village.#Somalia”.

According to Hiiran, “The troops also seized four al-Shabaab armored vehicles, an official said, adding that the operation was part of a regular operation conducted by government forces and US forces in the southern regions.”

Al-Shabaab also did not deny or confirm an attack on its forces.

Asked whether it had been responsible for this event, in February 2020 a senior AFRICOM official told Airwars that this was not the case. However, this may not preclude actions by the CIA which conducts its own undeclared strikes in Somalia.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the area around the village Jilib Marka, near the town of Marka. The coordinates for Jilib Marka are: 1.79767, 44.90755. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons, Unknown
  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    22

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • 'Victory and bravery: The country's military has confirmed an operation that killed al-Yasin Sheikh Mohamed, an al-Shabaab commander in the Shabelle region, and Mohamud Abu Hamza, recently returned from Syria. #SNA#DANAB ? #MarkoJilib'

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons, Unknown
  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    22

Sources (4) [ collapse]